B+
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
1%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Susanville California National
Cost of living98143100
Goods & Services96115100
Groceries103108100
Health care91103100
Housing99197100
Transportation117136100
Utilities78144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Susanville, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Susanville 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 Susanville is 98, which is 2% lower 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.

In Susanville, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Susanville will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Susanville Affordable?

Wondering if Susanville 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 Susanville, for example, the median home price is 0.9% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 1.9% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Susanville boasting a median household income of $71,190, which is 12.5% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Susanville?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Susanville, healthcare costs are 9.3% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including 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 farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Susanville 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Susanville is 32% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Susanville is 2% lower than the national average
  • Susanville housing is 1% lower 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 Susanville

See all the best places to live around Susanville

Compare Susanville, CA Cost of Living

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      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$95,902$7,992$2,238$2,877
      Renters$55,953$4,663$1,305$1,679
      The affordability of the housing market in Susanville, CA as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Susanville homeowners, the median income is $95,902. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,238 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $55,953. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,305 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 Susanville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.17$27.625.6%
      Beauty Salon $50.00$51.112.2%
      Toothpaste $4.08$4.090.3%
      Shampoo $1.83$1.5418.7%
      Movie $12.63$12.881.9%
      Yoga $21.45$19.669.1%

      Groceries

      Item Susanville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.02$7.704.1%
      Fried Chicken $2.57$1.6654.6%
      Milk $4.80$4.731.4%
      Potatoes $4.67$5.2611.2%
      Pizza $12.01$12.765.9%
      Beer $9.52$10.559.8%

      Health Care

      Item Susanville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $122.33$140.0612.7%
      Doctor $105.83$153.8231.2%
      Dentist $106.67$123.1513.4%
      Ibuprofen $11.85$11.731.0%
      Lipitor $26.96$23.6114.2%

      Housing

      Item Susanville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $323,699.00$326,622.000.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,148.27$2,480.2526.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,416.00$1,444.001.9%

      Transportation

      Item Susanville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.79$3.0624.0%
      Tire Balancing $65.27$65.210.1%

      Utilities

      Item Susanville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $147.51$220.1233.0%
      Phone $190.83$195.712.5%
      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.
      Litchfield, CA188972.8%
      Johnstonville, CA1,1911032.8%
      Janesville, CA2,9121099.4%
      Susanville, CA15,230982.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      El Sobrante, CA15,23116261.7%
      Lynden, WA15,22613534.9%
      West Lincoln, ON15,222n/a 
      Canmore, AB15,222n/a 
      Lebanon, MO15,2218316.7%
      Susanville, CA15,230982.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.