| Index | Phelan | California | National |
| Cost of living | 122 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 111 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 143 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 107 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 122 | 127 | 100 |

Knowing the cost of living in Phelan 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 Phelan stands at 122, marking it 22% higher than the national average.
If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Phelan may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Phelan falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Phelan cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 42.5% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Phelan affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Phelan, for instance, where the median home price falls 48.6% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 28.4% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Phelan flaunting a median household income of $93,068, 14.4% higher than the national norm.
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 Phelan, the groceries index is 8% 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.
Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Phelan, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and income tax rates kick off at 1%.
The Phelan 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 | $106,122 | $8,844 | $2,476 | $3,184 |
| Renters | $54,860 | $4,572 | $1,280 | $1,646 |
| 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. |
| Lake Los Angeles, CA | 12,394 | 116 | 15.7% |
| Adelanto, CA | 35,081 | 116 | 15.8% |
| Mountain View Acres, CA | 3,814 | 122 | 21.9% |
| Piñon Hills, CA | 7,136 | 121 | 20.9% |
| Lytle Creek, CA | 671 | 133 | 33.4% |
| Phelan, CA | 19,739 | 122 | 22.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC | 19,745 | n/a | |
| Mineola, NY | 19,748 | 154 | 54.1% |
| Hermosa Beach, CA | 19,749 | 290 | 190.4% |
| North Liberty, IA | 19,749 | 104 | 4.4% |
| Erlanger, KY | 19,751 | 91 | 8.9% |
| Phelan, CA | 19,739 | 122 | 22.1% |