B-
0%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
4%
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 Susanville California National
Cost of living100140100
Goods & Services99111100
Groceries101112100
Health care95109100
Housing96196100
Transportation122126100
Utilities92127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Susanville, CA

The cost of living in Susanville affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Susanville is 100, which is 0% equal to the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Susanville closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Susanville can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Susanville Affordable?

Is Susanville 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 Susanville, for instance, where the median home price falls 5.2% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 2.2% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Susanville flaunting a median household income of $47,685, 13.8% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Susanville?

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 Susanville, the transportation index is 22.4% higher than the national average.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Susanville, is 4.3% lower 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 Susanville, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and income tax rates kick off at 1%.

Where is the Data From?

The Susanville cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Susanville is 28% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Susanville is equal to the national average
  • Susanville housing is 4% 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

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Compare Susanville, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      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$65,669$5,472$1,532$1,970
      Renters$37,076$3,090$865$1,112
      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 $65,669. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,532 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $37,076. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $865 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 $25.78$24.266.2%
      Beauty Salon $42.67$45.566.4%
      Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.4%
      Shampoo $1.37$1.286.7%
      Movie $11.00$12.139.3%
      Bowling $21.95$18.0021.9%

      Groceries

      Item Susanville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.87$5.840.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.87$1.5718.7%
      Milk $4.60$4.671.6%
      Potatoes $4.57$4.937.4%
      Pizza $12.67$12.094.9%
      Beer $9.41$10.419.6%

      Health Care

      Item Susanville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $115.11$125.688.4%
      Doctor $129.11$135.784.9%
      Dentist $118.11$113.294.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.85$10.651.8%
      Lipitor $349.59$468.6025.4%

      Housing

      Item Susanville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $175,100.00$184,700.005.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,701.18$2,346.6915.1%
      Apartment Rent $928.00$949.002.2%

      Transportation

      Item Susanville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.40$3.4627.1%
      Tire Balancing $66.55$59.9211.1%

      Utilities

      Item Susanville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $171.07$193.9911.8%
      Phone $185.80$192.253.4%
      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, CA1831021.5%
      Johnstonville, CA1,1511055.2%
      Janesville, CA2,80311211.5%
      Susanville, CA14,9221000.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Kerman, CA14,92011414.1%
      St. Clair, ON14,919n/a 
      Ramsey, NJ14,91516059.7%
      Greeneville, TN14,9388713.0%
      Hershey, PA14,94111110.9%
      Susanville, CA14,9221000.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.