C
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
30%
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 Bear Delaware National
Cost of living112108100
Goods & Services106104100
Groceries106102100
Health care107103100
Housing130121100
Transportation108102100
Utilities9298100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Bear, DE

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Bear 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 Bear is 112, which is 12% higher 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.

When it comes to the cost of living in Bear, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 29.6% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Bear Affordable?

Is Bear 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 Bear, the median home price is 20.6% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 50.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Bear come in at $76,920, which is 39% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Bear?

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 Bear, the transportation index is 8% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Bear, the utilities index stands at 8.2% lower than the national average.

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Bear, the housing index is 29.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Bear 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 Bear is 3% higher than the Delaware average
  • The cost of living in Bear is 12% higher than the national average
  • Bear housing is 30% higher than the national average
  • Delaware general sales tax is 100% lower than the national average
  • Delaware state income tax is 15% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Bear

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Compare Bear, DE 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$79,451$6,621$1,854$2,384
      Renters$73,914$6,160$1,725$2,218
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Bear is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Bear has a median income of about $79,451 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,854 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $73,914. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,725 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Delaware Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Delaware 0% 0%

      Delaware Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Delaware 2.2% 6.6%

      Goods & Services

      Item Bear National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.14$24.2624.2%
      Beauty Salon $47.42$45.564.1%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.4%
      Shampoo $1.41$1.2810.4%
      Movie $12.71$12.134.7%
      Bowling $19.50$18.008.3%

      Groceries

      Item Bear National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.73$5.841.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.52$1.573.6%
      Milk $4.81$4.673.0%
      Potatoes $5.40$4.939.5%
      Pizza $11.33$12.096.2%
      Beer $11.96$10.4114.8%

      Health Care

      Item Bear National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $113.67$125.689.6%
      Doctor $149.53$135.7810.1%
      Dentist $132.28$113.2916.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.94$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $438.67$468.606.4%

      Housing

      Item Bear National avg. Difference
      Home Price $222,700.00$184,700.0020.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,192.51$2,346.696.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,430.00$949.0050.7%

      Transportation

      Item Bear National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.50$3.461.0%
      Tire Balancing $74.86$59.9224.9%

      Utilities

      Item Bear National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $173.73$193.9910.4%
      Phone $182.79$192.254.9%
      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.
      Lincoln University, PA1,8431044.4%
      Salem, NJ4,7618812.4%
      Marcus Hook, PA2,334919.0%
      Linwood, PA3,473937.4%
      Trainer, PA1,896946.0%
      Bear, DE21,39711211.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Ensley, FL21,397918.7%
      Thorold, ON21,396n/a 
      Duarte, CA21,39915555.4%
      Saint-Lazare, QC21,394n/a 
      Cranbrook, BC21,392n/a 
      Bear, DE21,39711211.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.