F
124%
Overall NAT. AVG.
22%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
358%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index North Fair Oaks California National
Cost of living224143100
Goods & Services122115100
Groceries110108100
Health care107103100
Housing458197100
Transportation137136100
Utilities143144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in North Fair Oaks, CA

Knowing the cost of living in North Fair Oaks 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 North Fair Oaks stands at 224, marking it 124% higher than the national average.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, North Fair Oaks 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, North Fair Oaks 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 North Fair Oaks, 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 357.6% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In North Fair Oaks, you can expect to pay 21.5% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in North Fair Oaks, it's the same story – grocery costs are 10.4% higher than what people pay across the country.

Is North Fair Oaks Affordable?

Wondering if North Fair Oaks 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 North Fair Oaks, for example, the median home price is 461.5% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 115% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with North Fair Oaks boasting a median household income of $132,117, which is 62.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in North Fair Oaks?

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In North Fair Oaks, the groceries index is 10.4% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in North Fair Oaks, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in North Fair Oaks is 56% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in North Fair Oaks is 124% higher than the national average
  • North Fair Oaks housing is 358% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around North Fair Oaks

See all the best places to live around North Fair Oaks

Compare North Fair Oaks, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$206,297$17,191$4,813$6,190
      Renters$84,656$7,055$1,975$2,540
      The affordability of the housing market in North Fair Oaks, CA as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among North Fair Oaks homeowners, the median income is $206,297. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $4,813 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $84,656. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,975 for their rent related monthly costs.

      California Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      California 7.25% 10.5%

      California Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      California 1% 13.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item North Fair Oaks National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.74$27.627.7%
      Beauty Salon $81.94$51.1160.3%
      Toothpaste $4.09$4.090.1%
      Shampoo $2.23$1.5444.6%
      Movie $17.31$12.8834.4%
      Yoga $35.00$19.6678.0%

      Groceries

      Item North Fair Oaks National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.02$7.704.1%
      Fried Chicken $2.65$1.6659.4%
      Milk $5.18$4.739.4%
      Potatoes $4.86$5.267.5%
      Pizza $19.60$12.7653.6%
      Beer $11.35$10.557.6%

      Health Care

      Item North Fair Oaks National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $175.85$140.0625.6%
      Doctor $150.69$153.822.0%
      Dentist $135.64$123.1510.1%
      Ibuprofen $12.52$11.736.7%
      Lipitor $24.08$23.612.0%

      Housing

      Item North Fair Oaks National avg. Difference
      Home Price $1,834,117.00$326,622.00461.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $9,604.61$2,480.25287.2%
      Apartment Rent $3,105.00$1,444.00115.0%

      Transportation

      Item North Fair Oaks National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.55$3.0648.9%
      Tire Balancing $69.75$65.217.0%

      Utilities

      Item North Fair Oaks National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $372.98$220.1269.4%
      Phone $194.17$195.710.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Loma Mar, CA29412423.8%
      Mountain View CDP, CA2,67513535.4%
      Cherryland, CA16,43016262.4%
      Hayward, CA163,49117574.7%
      San Lorenzo, CA31,09417675.6%
      North Fair Oaks, CA15,443224123.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Laurinburg, NC15,4448910.9%
      Eden, NC15,4558316.6%
      Stone Ridge, VA15,42715757.4%
      Greeneville, TN15,4218812.2%
      West Richland, WA15,42011716.8%
      North Fair Oaks, CA15,443224123.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.