F
51%
Overall NAT. AVG.
8%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
137%
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 Tracy California National
Cost of living151140100
Goods & Services108111100
Groceries107112100
Health care102109100
Housing237196100
Transportation122126100
Utilities142127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Tracy, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Tracy? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Tracy stands at 151, making it 51% 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.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Tracy may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Tracy falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Tracy, 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 137.1% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Tracy?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 8 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Tracy and this is how they responded. 38% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 63% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Tracy Affordable?

Is Tracy an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Tracy, the median home price is 154.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 96.2% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Tracy come in at $95,741, which is 73.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Tracy?

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, 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. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase 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.

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 Tracy, the transportation index is 21.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Tracy 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Tracy is 8% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Tracy is 51% higher than the national average
  • Tracy housing is 137% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 56% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Tracy

See all the best places to live around Tracy

Compare Tracy, 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$112,530$9,378$2,626$3,376
      Renters$77,853$6,488$1,816$2,336
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Tracy, CA, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Tracy, homeowners have a median income of $112,530. Using that number, a maximum of $2,626 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $77,853, which means there is a maximum of $1,816 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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% 12.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Tracy National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.42$24.263.5%
      Beauty Salon $49.62$45.568.9%
      Toothpaste $3.64$3.701.6%
      Shampoo $1.50$1.2817.0%
      Movie $13.61$12.1312.2%
      Bowling $22.34$18.0024.1%

      Groceries

      Item Tracy National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.24$5.846.9%
      Fried Chicken $2.10$1.5733.8%
      Milk $4.83$4.673.5%
      Potatoes $4.43$4.9310.3%
      Pizza $16.78$12.0938.8%
      Beer $10.08$10.413.2%

      Health Care

      Item Tracy National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $138.22$125.6810.0%
      Doctor $134.39$135.781.0%
      Dentist $117.52$113.293.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.68$10.650.3%
      Lipitor $494.99$468.605.6%

      Housing

      Item Tracy National avg. Difference
      Home Price $470,400.00$184,700.00154.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,173.44$2,346.6935.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,862.00$949.0096.2%

      Transportation

      Item Tracy National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.21$3.4621.5%
      Tire Balancing $73.10$59.9222.0%

      Utilities

      Item Tracy National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $327.22$193.9968.7%
      Phone $189.16$192.251.6%
      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.
      Westley, CA6891044.4%
      Kennedy, CA2,87711010.1%
      Taft Mosswood, CA1,06011414.2%
      Grayson, CA1,58212625.7%
      French Camp, CA3,64112928.5%
      Tracy, CA91,46215151.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Alafaya, FL91,46811716.5%
      Maple Ridge, BC91,475n/a 
      Suffolk, VA91,38311212.3%
      Carson, CA91,35415252.1%
      Santa Monica, CA91,600264164.0%
      Tracy, CA91,46215151.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.