| Index | Ukiah | California | National |
| Cost of living | 136 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 117 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 178 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 112 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 127 | 127 | 100 |
The cost of living in Ukiah 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 Ukiah is 136, which is 36% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
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 Ukiah 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, Ukiah falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Ukiah cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 77.5% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
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 Ukiah, these items cost 12.3% 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 Ukiah is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 10.5% higher than the national average.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 8 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Ukiah. The results indicated that 25% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 75% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is Ukiah 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 Ukiah, the median home price is 99.2% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 27% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Ukiah boasting a median household income of $80,713, 0.8% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Ukiah, the groceries index is 10.5% higher than the national average.
Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Ukiah, the housing index is 77.5% 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 Ukiah, healthcare costs are 16.9% higher than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Ukiah 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.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $113,136 | $9,428 | $2,640 | $3,394 |
| Renters | $55,621 | $4,635 | $1,298 | $1,669 |
| 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. |
| Philo, CA | 162 | 125 | 24.9% |
| Talmage, CA | 1,169 | 138 | 37.6% |
| Redwood Valley, CA | 1,869 | 143 | 43.1% |
| Calpella, CA | 636 | 146 | 45.5% |
| Hopland, CA | 917 | 151 | 50.8% |
| Ukiah, CA | 16,537 | 136 | 35.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Ripon, CA | 16,534 | 151 | 51.4% |
| Crowley, TX | 16,542 | 100 | 0.4% |
| Cloverly, MD | 16,545 | 150 | 50.1% |
| Griffith, IN | 16,547 | 93 | 7.1% |
| Zephyrhills, FL | 16,521 | 95 | 5.0% |
| Ukiah, CA | 16,537 | 136 | 35.5% |
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