F
54%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
185%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Truckee California National
Cost of living154143100
Goods & Services96115100
Groceries103108100
Health care91103100
Housing285197100
Transportation117136100
Utilities78144100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Truckee, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Truckee 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 Truckee is 154, which is 54% 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.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Truckee may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Truckee falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs significantly influence the Truckee 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 185.4%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

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

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 6 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Truckee. The feedback revealed that 33% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 67% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Truckee Affordable?

Is Truckee 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 Truckee, the median home price is 225.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 91.3% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Truckee come in at $148,841, which is 83% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Truckee?

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Truckee, the groceries index is 2.6% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Truckee, the transportation index stands at 17% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Truckee, the utilities index registers at 21.6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Truckee, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Truckee is 7% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Truckee is 54% higher than the national average
  • Truckee housing is 185% 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 Truckee

See all the best places to live around Truckee

Compare Truckee, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      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$167,998$14,000$3,920$5,040
      Renters$95,081$7,923$2,218$2,853
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Truckee, CA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Truckee have a median income of $167,998. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $3,920 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $95,081, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $2,218.

      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 Truckee National avg. Difference
      Haircut $29.17$27.625.6%
      Beauty Salon $50.00$51.112.2%
      Toothpaste $4.08$4.090.3%
      Shampoo $1.83$1.5418.7%
      Movie $12.63$12.881.9%
      Yoga $21.45$19.669.1%

      Groceries

      Item Truckee National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.02$7.704.1%
      Fried Chicken $2.57$1.6654.6%
      Milk $4.80$4.731.4%
      Potatoes $4.67$5.2611.2%
      Pizza $12.01$12.765.9%
      Beer $9.52$10.559.8%

      Health Care

      Item Truckee National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $122.33$140.0612.7%
      Doctor $105.83$153.8231.2%
      Dentist $106.67$123.1513.4%
      Ibuprofen $11.85$11.731.0%
      Lipitor $26.96$23.6114.2%

      Housing

      Item Truckee National avg. Difference
      Home Price $1,063,660.00$326,622.00225.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,148.27$2,480.2526.9%
      Apartment Rent $2,763.00$1,444.0091.3%

      Transportation

      Item Truckee National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.79$3.0624.0%
      Tire Balancing $65.27$65.210.1%

      Utilities

      Item Truckee National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $147.51$220.1233.0%
      Phone $190.83$195.712.5%
      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.
      Floriston, CA30972.8%
      Kingvale, CA105972.8%
      Soda Springs, CA47972.8%
      Kings Beach, CA2,89213737.3%
      Mogul, NV1,35614342.8%
      Truckee, CA17,02315453.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Yorkton, SK17,021n/a 
      Troutdale, OR17,01512625.9%
      Opelousas, LA17,0328812.0%
      North Myrtle Beach, SC17,03211010.4%
      Abington, MA17,03314241.8%
      Truckee, CA17,02315453.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.