F
24%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
54%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Mentone California National
Cost of living124140100
Goods & Services112111100
Groceries113112100
Health care99109100
Housing154196100
Transportation124126100
Utilities94127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Mentone, CA

Understanding the cost of living in Mentone can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Mentone cost of living index is 124, which is 24% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Mentone 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, Mentone falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

When it comes to the cost of living in Mentone, 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 54.2% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, Mentone goods and services are 12% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

The surge in grocery costs is indeed alarming, especially when groceries make up a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Over the past two years, there has been an inflation of over 10% in grocery prices. Unfortunately, Mentone does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 13.1% higher than the national average.

Is Mentone Affordable?

Is Mentone 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 Mentone, the median home price is 71.9% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 13% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Mentone come in at $62,188, which is 12.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Mentone?

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 Mentone, healthcare costs are 1.2% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Mentone, the groceries index registers 13.1% higher than the national average.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Mentone, the housing index comes in at 54.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Mentone cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

New Real Estate Listings in Mentone Area
Search Homes for Sale in Mentone, CA

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Mentone is 11% lower than the California average
  • The cost of living in Mentone is 24% higher than the national average
  • Mentone housing is 54% 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 Mentone

See all the best places to live around Mentone

Compare Mentone, CA Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Mentone?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Mentone?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Mentone poll results

      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$76,193$6,349$1,778$2,286
      Renters$43,281$3,607$1,010$1,299
      The affordability of the housing market in Mentone, CA as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Mentone homeowners, the median income is $76,193. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,778 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $43,281. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,010 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 Mentone National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.27$24.2612.4%
      Beauty Salon $41.78$45.568.3%
      Toothpaste $3.61$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.34$1.284.9%
      Movie $11.04$12.139.0%
      Bowling $21.11$18.0017.3%

      Groceries

      Item Mentone National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.89$5.840.8%
      Fried Chicken $3.49$1.57121.9%
      Milk $4.92$4.675.4%
      Potatoes $4.92$4.930.3%
      Pizza $15.31$12.0926.6%
      Beer $10.26$10.411.4%

      Health Care

      Item Mentone National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.92$125.6810.2%
      Doctor $95.50$135.7829.7%
      Dentist $117.28$113.293.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.58$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $521.17$468.6011.2%

      Housing

      Item Mentone National avg. Difference
      Home Price $317,500.00$184,700.0071.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,441.43$2,346.694.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,072.00$949.0013.0%

      Transportation

      Item Mentone National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.75$3.4637.3%
      Tire Balancing $61.38$59.922.4%

      Utilities

      Item Mentone National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $378.97$193.9995.4%
      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.
      Banning, CA30,27611515.3%
      Calimesa, CA9,15611818.5%
      Crestline, CA9,35111918.8%
      San Bernardino, CA216,78411918.9%
      Running Springs, CA4,41012019.9%
      Mentone, CA10,14112423.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Snohomish, WA10,14113534.7%
      Waynesville, NC10,145963.5%
      Wood River, IL10,1498316.8%
      Lantana, TX10,15215151.3%
      Fountain Inn, SC10,127946.3%
      Mentone, CA10,14112423.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.