F
42%
Overall NAT. AVG.
14%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
93%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; 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 San Pablo California National
Cost of living142140100
Goods & Services114111100
Groceries117112100
Health care121109100
Housing193196100
Transportation129126100
Utilities134127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in San Pablo, CA

Knowing the cost of living in San Pablo 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 San Pablo stands at 142, marking it 42% higher than the national average.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, San Pablo may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, San Pablo falls within this bracket.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the San Pablo 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 93.3% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, San Pablo goods and services are 14.1% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

The relentless increase in grocery prices is a noteworthy trend. In the last two years, grocery costs have experienced an upward trajectory of over 10%. Unfortunately, San Pablo is no exception, where grocery prices are 17.2% above the national average.

Is San Pablo Affordable?

Is San Pablo 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 San Pablo, for instance, where the median home price falls 106.1% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 63.3% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with San Pablo flaunting a median household income of $60,819, 9.9% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in San Pablo?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In San Pablo, healthcare costs are 21.2% higher than the national average.

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 San Pablo, the groceries index is 17.2% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In San Pablo, the transportation index is 29.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The San Pablo cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in San Pablo is 2% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in San Pablo is 42% higher than the national average
  • San Pablo housing is 93% 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 San Pablo

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Compare San Pablo, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      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$75,750$6,313$1,767$2,273
      Renters$50,729$4,227$1,184$1,522
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in San Pablo, CA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in San Pablo have a median income of $75,750. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,767 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $50,729, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,184.

      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 San Pablo National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.00$24.263.0%
      Beauty Salon $76.00$45.5666.8%
      Toothpaste $3.64$3.701.7%
      Shampoo $1.45$1.2813.5%
      Movie $16.46$12.1335.7%
      Bowling $27.22$18.0051.2%

      Groceries

      Item San Pablo National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.70$5.842.3%
      Fried Chicken $3.43$1.57118.2%
      Milk $4.91$4.675.1%
      Potatoes $4.87$4.931.3%
      Pizza $13.49$12.0911.6%
      Beer $11.18$10.417.4%

      Health Care

      Item San Pablo National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $137.40$125.689.3%
      Doctor $110.00$135.7819.0%
      Dentist $118.27$113.294.4%
      Ibuprofen $11.76$10.6510.4%
      Lipitor $508.17$468.608.4%

      Housing

      Item San Pablo National avg. Difference
      Home Price $380,700.00$184,700.00106.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $6,553.90$2,346.69179.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,550.00$949.0063.3%

      Transportation

      Item San Pablo National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.60$3.4633.0%
      Tire Balancing $60.97$59.921.7%

      Utilities

      Item San Pablo National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $182.51$193.995.9%
      Phone $180.31$192.256.2%
      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.
      Port Costa, CA24212020.0%
      Strawberry CDP (Tuolumne County), CA11612524.6%
      Pacheco, CA4,77511615.7%
      El Cerrito CDP, CA5,69914039.6%
      North Richmond, CA4,25814444.2%
      San Pablo, CA30,95914242.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Morgantown, WV30,953991.2%
      Danville, IL30,9698217.6%
      Chambly, QC30,986n/a 
      Miami Lakes, FL31,02113534.8%
      Centre Wellington, ON30,896n/a 
      San Pablo, CA30,95914242.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.