F
113%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
343%
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 Encinitas California National
Cost of living213140100
Goods & Services113111100
Groceries116112100
Health care105109100
Housing443196100
Transportation127126100
Utilities107127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Encinitas, CA

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Encinitas? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Encinitas stands at 213, making it 113% 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're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Encinitas may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Encinitas falls within this bracket.

Housing costs significantly influence the Encinitas cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 343.1%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Encinitas, you you will have to spend 12.6% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

The relentless increase in grocery prices is a noteworthy trend. In the last two years, grocery costs have experienced an upward trajectory of over 10%. Unfortunately, Encinitas is no exception, where grocery prices are 15.6% above the national average.

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

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 12 residents in Encinitas to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 25% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 75% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Encinitas Affordable?

Is Encinitas 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 Encinitas, the median home price is 437.1% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 123.8% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Encinitas come in at $120,488, which is 117.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Encinitas?

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Encinitas, the transportation index is 27% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Encinitas, healthcare costs are 5% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Encinitas 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 Encinitas is 52% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Encinitas is 113% higher than the national average
  • Encinitas housing is 343% higher 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 Encinitas

See all the best places to live around Encinitas

Compare Encinitas, 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$150,927$12,577$3,521$4,528
      Renters$78,611$6,551$1,834$2,359
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Encinitas, 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 Encinitas, homeowners have a median income of $150,927. Using that number, a maximum of $3,521 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $78,611, which means there is a maximum of $1,834 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% 13.3%

      Goods & Services

      Item Encinitas National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.92$24.2610.9%
      Beauty Salon $65.77$45.5644.3%
      Toothpaste $3.73$3.700.7%
      Shampoo $1.50$1.2817.1%
      Movie $16.89$12.1339.2%
      Bowling $24.67$18.0037.1%

      Groceries

      Item Encinitas National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.47$5.846.3%
      Fried Chicken $3.05$1.5793.7%
      Milk $4.98$4.676.5%
      Potatoes $4.94$4.930.0%
      Pizza $14.69$12.0921.5%
      Beer $11.25$10.418.1%

      Health Care

      Item Encinitas National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $138.66$125.6810.3%
      Doctor $132.50$135.782.4%
      Dentist $121.37$113.297.1%
      Ibuprofen $12.01$10.6512.7%
      Lipitor $508.17$468.608.4%

      Housing

      Item Encinitas National avg. Difference
      Home Price $992,100.00$184,700.00437.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $5,168.91$2,346.69120.3%
      Apartment Rent $2,124.00$949.00123.8%

      Transportation

      Item Encinitas National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.68$3.4635.1%
      Tire Balancing $64.40$59.927.5%

      Utilities

      Item Encinitas National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $223.42$193.9915.2%
      Phone $180.31$192.256.2%
      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.
      Escondido, CA150,39614848.4%
      Vista, CA100,65915353.5%
      Camp Pendleton South, CA16,61815757.3%
      Oceanside, CA175,69415858.1%
      San Marcos, CA96,21916363.4%
      Encinitas, CA62,967213112.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Brentwood, CA63,01317070.3%
      West Hartford, CT63,02312525.4%
      La Habra, CA62,78715958.7%
      Brentwood, NY62,74313029.8%
      Springfield, OR62,7291077.3%
      Encinitas, CA62,967213112.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.