| Index | Montclair | California | National |
| Cost of living | 139 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 115 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 195 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 126 | 127 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Montclair allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Montclair stands at 139, marking it 39% higher than the national average.
If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Montclair may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Montclair falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Montclair cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 94.8% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
Recurring household expenses such as cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, toiletries, and kitchen basics are a steady part of monthly spending and make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Montclair, these everyday items will cost you 11.1% more than average, making it a slightly more expensive place to call home.
Wondering if Montclair is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Montclair, for example, the median home price is 113.4% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 51.5% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Montclair boasting a median household income of $93,369, which is 14.8% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Montclair comes in at 18.3% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Montclair, the transportation index is 12.7% higher than the national average.
The Montclair cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $117,449 | $9,787 | $2,740 | $3,524 |
| Renters | $61,387 | $5,116 | $1,432 | $1,842 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Lytle Creek, CA | 671 | 133 | 33.4% |
| El Sobrante CDP (Contra Costa County), CA | 13,228 | 136 | 35.8% |
| Industry, CA | 269 | 137 | 37.1% |
| Fontana, CA | 220,412 | 141 | 41.4% |
| Home Gardens, CA | 12,492 | 141 | 40.9% |
| Montclair, CA | 41,014 | 139 | 38.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Chelsea, MA | 41,000 | 135 | 35.2% |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 41,077 | 139 | 38.7% |
| Hagerstown, MD | 40,940 | 101 | 1.3% |
| Marion, IA | 41,096 | 94 | 5.8% |
| La Puente, CA | 41,123 | 144 | 44.2% |
| Montclair, CA | 41,014 | 139 | 38.5% |
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