A-
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
45%
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 Carson City Nevada National
Cost of living114100100
Goods & Services9992100
Groceries101103100
Health care9592100
Housing145104100
Transportation122117100
Utilities9299100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Carson City, NV

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Carson City 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 Carson City is 114, which is 14% 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.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Carson City cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 44.7% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Carson City Affordable?

Is Carson City 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 Carson City, the median home price is 62.4% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 3.5% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Carson City boasting a median household income of $58,305, 5.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Carson City?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Carson City, healthcare costs are 5.3% 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 Carson City, the groceries index is 0.8% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Carson City, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6.85%, and the income tax rates commence at 0%.

Where is the Data From?

The Carson City 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 Carson City is 15% higher than the Nevada average
  • The cost of living in Carson City is 14% higher than the national average
  • Carson City housing is 45% higher than the national average
  • Nevada general sales tax is 34% higher than the national average
  • Nevada state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Carson City

See all the best places to live around Carson City

Compare Carson City, NV 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$72,915$6,076$1,701$2,188
      Renters$44,864$3,739$1,047$1,346
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Carson City, NV, 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 Carson City, homeowners have a median income of $72,915. Using that number, a maximum of $1,701 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $44,864, which means there is a maximum of $1,047 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Nevada Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Nevada 6.85% 8.25%

      Nevada Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Nevada 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Carson City 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 Carson City 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 Carson City 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 Carson City National avg. Difference
      Home Price $299,900.00$184,700.0062.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,701.18$2,346.6915.1%
      Apartment Rent $982.00$949.003.5%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Carson City 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.
      Logan Creek, NV371021.5%
      Dayton, NV14,25811312.6%
      Gardnerville, NV6,01311717.4%
      Silver City, NV11512221.6%
      Indian Hills, NV6,17312222.1%
      Carson City, NV55,24411414.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Gilroy, CA55,22718281.7%
      Apex, NC55,22012222.1%
      Kettering, OH55,271945.8%
      Chicopee, MA55,1861055.3%
      Hempstead, NY55,15313635.8%
      Carson City, NV55,24411414.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.