Cost of Living in Oakland, CA
| Cost of Living in Oakland, CA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 1% lower | 98% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 7% higher | 30% higher |
| Food | 9% higher | 28% higher |
| Healthcare | 15% higher | 26% higher |
| Transportation | 5% higher | 33% higher |
| Goods & Services | 7% higher | 17% higher |
The cost of living in Oakland, CA is 2% higher than the state average and 44% higher than the national average. Oakland, CA housing is 98% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 30% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 17% more in Oakland, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 17% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 26% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 17% pricier in Oakland, CA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Oakland is $2,790, while home prices circle around $918,611.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Oakland, energy bills cost around $273.93 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $3.76 in Oakland, a dozen eggs go for around $4.23 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.51.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Oakland, an optometry check-up costs around $150.28, while a dentist appointment is priced $144.51 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $5.15 in Oakland, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $71.05.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $46.23 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $56.64.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Oakland, you should budget around $14.20 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $26.33, while dry cleaning costs about $15.43.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Oakland, the median household income is $85,628.