| Index | Selma | California | National |
| Cost of living | 115 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 120 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 136 | 127 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Selma? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Selma stands at 115, making it 15% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The routine items you regularly buy for your home, such as cleaning supplies, personal care products, clothing basics, and kitchen essentials, make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Selma, these items cost 11.5% more than the national average, making day-to-day living a bit more expensive.
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 Selma is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 14.3% higher than the national average.
Is Selma affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Selma, the median home price is 5.8% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 1.2% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Selma boasting a median household income of $62,679, 22.9% lower 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 Selma, the utilities index registers 24.8% higher than the national average.
Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Selma, the transportation index is 20.6% higher than the national average.
Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Selma, the housing index is 3.7% higher than the national average.
The Selma 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 | |
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| Utilities index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $76,454 | $6,371 | $1,784 | $2,294 |
| Renters | $53,657 | $4,471 | $1,252 | $1,610 |
| 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. |
| Hardwick, CA | 160 | 116 | 15.6% |
| Monmouth, CA | 115 | 105 | 5.4% |
| Laton, CA | 2,025 | 105 | 5.3% |
| Tooleville, CA | 188 | 106 | 6.4% |
| London, CA | 1,582 | 108 | 7.9% |
| Selma, CA | 25,254 | 115 | 15.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Derby, KS | 25,251 | 96 | 3.9% |
| Avon Lake, OH | 25,262 | 109 | 8.8% |
| West Memphis, AR | 25,245 | 87 | 13.4% |
| Collingwood, ON | 25,244 | n/a | |
| Homer Glen, IL | 25,242 | 120 | 19.8% |
| Selma, CA | 25,254 | 115 | 15.2% |
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