F
42%
Overall NAT. AVG.
16%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
104%
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 Santa Paula California National
Cost of living142140100
Goods & Services116111100
Groceries112112100
Health care108109100
Housing204196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities112127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Santa Paula, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Santa Paula is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Santa Paula is 142, which is 42% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, 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 Paula 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 Paula falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Santa Paula 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 103.6% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Santa Paula, these items will cost you 16.2% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Santa Paula is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 12.2% higher than the national average.

Is Santa Paula Affordable?

Is Santa Paula 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 Santa Paula, the median home price is 128.4% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 45.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Santa Paula come in at $62,241, which is 12.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Santa Paula?

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Santa Paula, the groceries index is 12.2% higher than the national average.

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 Santa Paula, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and income tax rates kick off at 1%.

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Santa Paula cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Santa Paula is 2% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Santa Paula is 42% higher than the national average
  • Santa Paula housing is 104% 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 Santa Paula

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Compare Santa Paula, CA Cost of Living

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      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$72,753$6,063$1,697$2,183
      Renters$41,852$3,488$976$1,256
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Santa Paula is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Santa Paula has a median income of about $72,753 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,697 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $41,852. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $976 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Santa Paula National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.67$24.261.7%
      Beauty Salon $49.33$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.76$3.701.5%
      Shampoo $1.41$1.289.8%
      Movie $13.46$12.1311.0%
      Bowling $19.07$18.006.0%

      Groceries

      Item Santa Paula National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.26$5.847.2%
      Fried Chicken $2.08$1.5732.2%
      Milk $4.76$4.671.9%
      Potatoes $4.94$4.930.2%
      Pizza $16.13$12.0933.5%
      Beer $9.60$10.417.8%

      Health Care

      Item Santa Paula National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $129.09$125.682.7%
      Doctor $119.86$135.7811.7%
      Dentist $108.07$113.294.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.36$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $505.41$468.607.9%

      Housing

      Item Santa Paula National avg. Difference
      Home Price $421,900.00$184,700.00128.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,799.02$2,346.6919.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,383.00$949.0045.7%

      Transportation

      Item Santa Paula National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.47$3.4629.3%
      Tire Balancing $58.33$59.922.6%

      Utilities

      Item Santa Paula National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $326.49$193.9968.3%
      Phone $182.78$192.254.9%
      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.
      Saticoy, CA1,73914040.4%
      Fillmore, CA15,63114544.7%
      Port Hueneme, CA21,97914646.3%
      Oxnard, CA207,72215050.2%
      El Rio, CA6,50615453.5%
      Santa Paula, CA30,29714242.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Gloucester, MA30,29114544.6%
      Banning, CA30,27611515.3%
      Cibolo, TX30,33311010.2%
      Atwater, CA30,33611615.9%
      North Tonawanda, NY30,3388811.9%
      Santa Paula, CA30,29714242.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.