| Index | Montclair | Virginia | National |
| Cost of living | 142 | 111 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Health care | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Housing | 228 | 129 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 108 | 103 | 100 |
| Household Items | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 107 | 109 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Montclair? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Montclair stands at 142, making it 42% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
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.
When it comes to the cost of living in Montclair, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 128.4% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Montclair an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Montclair, the median home price is 132.9% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 117.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Montclair come in at $185,839, which is 128.5% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Montclair, healthcare costs are 3% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.
Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Montclair, the general sales tax rate starts at 5.3%, and income tax rates begin at 2%.
The Montclair cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional 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 | $197,571 | $16,464 | $4,610 | $5,928 |
| Renters | $146,289 | $12,191 | $3,413 | $4,389 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Virginia | 5.3% | 6% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Virginia | 2% | 5.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Rose Hill CDP (Lee County), VA | 731 | 89 | 11.0% |
| Potomac Heights, MD | 1,295 | 90 | 10.5% |
| Woodlawn CDP (Carroll County), VA | 2,334 | 89 | 11.3% |
| Wakefield town, VA | 838 | 92 | 8.4% |
| Boswell's Corner, VA | 1,479 | 94 | 5.6% |
| Montclair, VA | 22,122 | 142 | 41.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Sedalia, MO | 22,119 | 86 | 13.8% |
| Rancho San Diego, CA | 22,136 | 174 | 74.1% |
| Pickerington, OH | 22,095 | 106 | 6.3% |
| Ensley, FL | 22,158 | 96 | 4.4% |
| Bonney Lake, WA | 22,079 | 135 | 34.9% |
| Montclair, VA | 22,122 | 142 | 41.9% |
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