| Index | Seaside | California | National |
| Cost of living | 158 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 114 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 263 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 108 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 118 | 127 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Seaside 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 Seaside is 158, which is 58% 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 you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Seaside 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, Seaside falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Seaside cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 163.4% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
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, Seaside is no exception, where grocery prices are 10.2% above the national average.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 7 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Seaside. The results indicated that 29% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 71% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is Seaside 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 Seaside, for instance, where the median home price falls 193.2% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 93.8% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Seaside flaunting a median household income of $100,486, 23.5% higher than the national norm.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Seaside, the transportation index is 13.7% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Seaside, the healthcare costs are 14.1% higher than the national average.
The Seaside 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 | $131,773 | $10,981 | $3,074 | $3,954 |
| Renters | $87,808 | $7,317 | $2,049 | $2,635 |
| 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. |
| Moss Landing, CA | 33 | 117 | 16.7% |
| Boronda, CA | 1,790 | 134 | 34.1% |
| Sand City, CA | 333 | 134 | 33.7% |
| Salinas, CA | 161,640 | 149 | 49.0% |
| Elkhorn, CA | 1,020 | 156 | 56.2% |
| Seaside, CA | 34,761 | 158 | 58.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Spanaway, WA | 34,750 | 120 | 20.1% |
| Valparaiso, IN | 34,723 | 98 | 2.0% |
| Pullman, WA | 34,799 | 118 | 17.5% |
| Woodridge, IL | 34,713 | 114 | 14.4% |
| New City, NY | 34,823 | 150 | 50.1% |
| Seaside, CA | 34,761 | 158 | 58.4% |
Here are the best places to live in California
Safest States In The US
Check out the 10 most dangerous cities in California
Check out the 10 safest cities in California