| Index | South El Monte | California | National |
| Cost of living | 148 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 118 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 217 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 133 | 127 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in South El Monte 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 South El Monte stands at 148, marking it 48% higher than the national average.
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 South El Monte 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, South El Monte falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in South El Monte, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 117.4% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Household expenses make up 8% of the total cost of living index score and cover the everyday essentials needed to keep your home running smoothly. These items may include cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, toiletries, clothing basics, and kitchen essentials. In South El Monte, you can expect to pay 11.2% more than average for these everyday necessities, making it a more expensive place to live.
Is South El Monte 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 South El Monte, the median home price is 149.9% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 41.6% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with South El Monte boasting a median household income of $80,878, 0.6% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in South El Monte starts at 7.25% and the income tax rates start at 1%.
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 South El Monte, the utilities index registers 23.9% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In South El Monte, healthcare costs are 17.9% higher than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for South El Monte are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
| 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 | $105,937 | $8,828 | $2,472 | $3,178 |
| Renters | $60,151 | $5,013 | $1,403 | $1,805 |
| 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. |
| Vernon, CA | 254 | 117 | 16.8% |
| Willowbrook, CA | 25,347 | 136 | 36.0% |
| East Rancho Dominguez, CA | 15,765 | 136 | 36.3% |
| Florence-Graham, CA | 66,603 | 138 | 38.2% |
| Compton, CA | 98,731 | 139 | 38.7% |
| South El Monte, CA | 21,353 | 148 | 47.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Lebanon, OH | 21,351 | 97 | 2.8% |
| East Moline, IL | 21,358 | 90 | 10.3% |
| Dickinson, TX | 21,358 | 99 | 0.8% |
| Sidney, OH | 21,359 | 87 | 12.6% |
| Lynn Haven, FL | 21,344 | 110 | 9.9% |
| South El Monte, CA | 21,353 | 148 | 47.7% |
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