| Index | San Bernardino | California | National |
| Cost of living | 124 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 117 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 137 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 114 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 133 | 127 | 100 |
The cost of living in San Bernardino affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in San Bernardino is 124, which is 24% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
The cost of living in San Bernardino is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, San Bernardino falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in San Bernardino, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 36.6% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Household expenses account for 8% of the cost of living index and include the products people rely on every week, from toiletries and detergent to clothing and kitchen essentials. In San Bernardino, household essentials are 13.8% more expensive than the U.S. average, which can leave less room in your monthly budget.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 14 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in San Bernardino and this is how they responded. 29% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 71% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino, the median home price is 46.4% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 13.9% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in San Bernardino come in at $74,558, which is 8.3% lower than the national average.
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 San Bernardino, the transportation index is 18.6% higher than the national average.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In San Bernardino, the utilities index registers 19.1% higher than the national average.
Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In San Bernardino, the housing index is 36.6% higher than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for San Bernardino are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
| 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 | $106,505 | $8,875 | $2,485 | $3,195 |
| Renters | $51,322 | $4,277 | $1,197 | $1,540 |
| 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. |
| Crestline, CA | 9,723 | 123 | 23.0% |
| Calimesa, CA | 9,446 | 124 | 24.1% |
| Running Springs, CA | 4,509 | 123 | 23.4% |
| Muscoy, CA | 11,809 | 126 | 26.0% |
| Colton, CA | 55,956 | 127 | 27.0% |
| San Bernardino, CA | 221,910 | 124 | 23.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Des Moines, IA | 221,968 | 91 | 8.5% |
| Enterprise, NV | 221,693 | 122 | 22.2% |
| Richmond, BC | 222,489 | n/a | |
| Modesto, CA | 222,619 | 130 | 29.9% |
| Tacoma, WA | 223,137 | 125 | 24.9% |
| San Bernardino, CA | 221,910 | 124 | 23.5% |
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