| Index | Santa Clarita | California | National |
| Cost of living | 165 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 120 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 276 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 124 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 129 | 127 | 100 |
The cost of living in Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita is 165, which is 65% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Santa Clarita is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Santa Clarita falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
When it comes to the cost of living in Santa Clarita, 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 175.8% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 27 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Santa Clarita. The feedback revealed that 19% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 81% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Wondering if Santa Clarita 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 Santa Clarita, for example, the median home price is 205.3% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 106.9% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Santa Clarita boasting a median household income of $152,696, which is 87.7% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Santa Clarita, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 7.25%, and income tax rates start at 1%.
Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Santa Clarita, is 175.8% higher than the national average.
The Santa Clarita 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 | $182,122 | $15,177 | $4,249 | $5,464 |
| Renters | $94,370 | $7,864 | $2,202 | $2,831 |
| 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. |
| Piru, CA | 2,198 | 133 | 33.3% |
| Val Verde, CA | 3,328 | 140 | 40.4% |
| Leona Valley, CA | 1,715 | 140 | 39.9% |
| San Fernando, CA | 24,761 | 150 | 50.5% |
| Burbank CDP, CA | 5,143 | 158 | 57.8% |
| Santa Clarita, CA | 218,105 | 165 | 65.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Birmingham, AL | 216,515 | 88 | 12.4% |
| Fontana, CA | 220,412 | 141 | 41.4% |
| Moreno Valley, CA | 215,612 | 137 | 37.1% |
| Fayetteville, NC | 215,564 | 96 | 4.4% |
| Richmond Hill, ON | 215,407 | n/a | |
| Santa Clarita, CA | 218,105 | 165 | 65.4% |
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