Ventura (formally known as San Buenaventura) is a coastal city located just northwest of Los Angeles, California. The city of Ventura is popular among tourists due to its beautiful beaches, historic attractions, and resorts. Although the city is a popular tourist destination, it is also a great place to live all year round. But how much does it cost to live in Ventura, CA? Here’s everything you should know about the Ventura, CA cost of living, real estate prices, and everyday expenses you will encounter.
Ventura Cost of Living Index
Is Ventura, CA expensive? This question can be answered by taking a look at the Ventura Cost of Living Index. The Cost of Living Index, or COLI, is a number that compares the cost of goods and services in a city to the national average of 100. There are many factors that go into the final COLI, including housing, healthcare, groceries, and utilities.
The Ventura, California Cost of Living Index is 154. This means that the cost of living in Ventura is 54% more expensive than the national average of 100. The cost of housing is 158% more expensive than the national average, while transportation, groceries, and healthcare are 15.2%, 7.9%, and 7.0% more expensive than the national average, respectively. The only cost in Ventura that is below the national average is utilities, which is 4.6% more affordable.
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
The cost of living in Ventura, California can also be measured by the Consumer Price Index, or CPI. The Consumer Price Index is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics uses to measure the changes in the prices of everyday expenses in a given region. Ventura is a part of the West region. The CPI in Ventura increased 0.4% over the past few months and 3.9% over the past year. Here’s a breakdown of the percentage difference of the major costs over the past year.
- Food: Up 3.8%
- Housing: Up 5.8%
- Fuels and utilities: Up 8.5%
- Apparel: Up 1.1%
- Transportation: Up 0.8%
- Gasoline: Up 2.3%
- Medical care: Up 1.5%
- Education: Up 0.1%
Consumer Expenditure Survey
Another good way to get an idea of the cost of living in Ventura, CA is to take a look at the Consumer Expenditure Survey. This survey is also published by the BLS and provides information on the expenditures of consumers in an area. The latest Consumer Expenditure Survey states that households in Ventura spent an average of $78,778 during the 2021-2022 calendar year. The spending habits of consumers in the Western region were higher than any other region as well as the national average ($70,052).
Here’s how this income is spent:
- Housing: 34.9% (compared to the U.S. average of 33.5%)
- Transportation: 16.2% (compared to the U.S. average of 16.6%)
- Food: 12.5% (compared to the U.S. average of 12.6%)
- Personal insurance & pensions: 11.7% (compared to the U.S. average of 11.9%)
- Healthcare: 7.2% (compared to the U.S. average of 8.1%)
- Entertainment: 5.4% (compared to the U.S. average of 5.0%)
- Education: 1.6% (compared to the U.S. average of 1.8%)
The average cost of living in Ventura, CA is actually below the national average in most categories, but housing drives up the average. Based on the numbers above, you can see that housing and entertainment costs are above the national average, while transportation, food, personal insurance, healthcare, and education costs are all slightly below the national average.
Family Budget in Ventura
Are you wondering whether or not the Ventura, CA cost of living is maintainable for you and your family? According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four living in Ventura will need to earn $109,781 to live comfortably in the city. This comes out to $9,148 per month. These are the categories that contribute to the average cost of living in Ventura, California.
- Housing: $1,923 per month
- Transportation: $1,439 per month
- Health care: $1,387 per month
- Child care: $1,319
- Taxes: $1,222 per month
- Food: $867 per month
- Other necessities: $1,011 per month
Your cost of living in Ventura will depend on many factors such as the neighborhood you live in, the size of your family, and your lifestyle. You can save money on transportation by taking public transport. If you don’t have any children, you won’t need to factor in the cost of child care. For a family of two with no children living in the city, you can expect to pay around $69,107 each year.
Cost of Household Items, Utilities, Gas & Groceries in Ventura
Can I afford to live in Ventura? When asking yourself this question, you need to take into consideration everyday expenses that you will face. This is the average cost of groceries in Ventura as well as everyday Ventura living expenses.
- Steak (1lb): $6.10
- Milk (1 gallon): $4.51
- Eggs (1 dozen): $4.50
- Potatoes (5 pounds): $6.60
- Bread (1 loaf): $4.75
- Beer (1 bottle): $7.00
- Movie ticket: $14.75
- McDonald’s meal: $9.25
- Average cell phone bill: $43.00
- Gas (1 gallon): $5.16
- Average cost of utilities in Ventura (monthly): $179.03
Source: Numbeo
Extra bills also go into the average cost of living in Ventura, CA. You can expect to pay an internet bill of at least $72.50 per month. According to CarInsurance.com, the average car insurance bill in Ventura is around $49 per month.
Your transportation costs can be lowered by utilizing the Ventura County Public Transportation Commission. The VCTC operates six commuter bus routes throughout Ventura County. Amtrak also provides regional rail service to the city of Ventura.
Ventura Real Estate Market
Are you in the market for Ventura homes for sale? The Ventura real estate market is hot, and home prices are up 11.5% compared to last year. According to VC Star, Ventura, CA real estate prices rose over 7% from September 2023 to October 2023. According to Redfin, the median home price in Ventura, CA is $865,000, which is lower than the national average of $412,020. Ventura, CA homes for sale sit on the market for an average of 30 days, compared to 42 days last year. Of the 43,779 housing units in the city, 59% are owner-occupied, while 41% are renter-occupied.
A few of the most popular neighborhoods in Ventura are Downtown Ventura (average home price of $875,000), Ventura Harbor Village (average home price of $600,000), and Pierpont (average home price of $1.38 million).
Ventura Rental Market - Average Rent in Ventura CA
Are you thinking about renting Ventura, California real estate? According to RentCafe, the average rent in Ventura, CA is $2,743 per month. This is higher than the national average of $1,702. According to the VC Star, the average apartment rent in Ventura, CA rose 7.4% over the past year.
Here’s how the Ventura rent stacks up against other California cities.
- Los Angeles: $2,742
- San Diego: $3,016
- San Francisco: $3,336
- West Hollywood: $3,387
- Santa Monica: $3,940
Before renting Ventura real estate, you will want to make sure you can comfortably afford your monthly payments. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach Report, a worker in Ventura would need to earn $46.63 per hour ($2,425 per month) to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the city without spending over 30% of their income on rent. This is higher than the California average of $42.25 per hour ($2,197 per month).
Is it more affordable to buy or rent in Ventura, CA? According to the 2022 Rental Affordability Report, it is more affordable to rent than to buy in Ventura. This claim can be supported by looking at the price-to-rent ratio. The higher the ratio, the better the area is for renters. The lower the ratio, the better it is for buyers. To calculate the price-to-rent ratio, you will need to divide the median annual rent by the median home price.
When you divide the Ventura annual rent by the Ventura median home price, you get a price-to-rent ratio of 26.2. This high price-to-rent ratio supports the claim that the city is better for buyers.
Average Salary & Household Income in Ventura
The average income in Ventura, CA is $100,073, which is higher than the California average of $91,551. So, although the Ventura cost of living is higher, you can use your extra income to help with the costs.
According to PayScale, the average salary in Ventura is $82,000 per year. You will be happy to know that there are many incredible job options in Ventura. Due to the city being a popular tourist destination, tourism and hospitality are two of the biggest industries in the city.
Some of the top employers in Ventura include:
You will also find additional popular employers in Ventura County such as Adventist Health, Baxter Healthcare, City of Simi Valley, Harbor Freight Tools, and Moorpark College.
Income, Sales & Property Taxes in Ventura
These are the taxes that you can expect to pay in Ventura.
California Income Tax Rate
The California income tax rate depends on your specific individual or business-related income. The state has nine tax rates that range from 1% to 12.3%. The higher your income, the more tax you can expect to pay. Any income over $1 million is subject to an additional 1% surcharge.
Sales Tax in Ventura
Sales tax in Ventura, CA is 7.750%. Here’s how the Ventura sales tax rate is calculated.
- California State: 7.250%
- Ventura County: 0.000%
- Ventura: 0.500%
- Total: 7.750%
Ventura Property Tax
Ventura property taxes are collected by the Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector. Ventura County property taxes are determined in accordance with State Law and are limited to $1 per $100 assessed value of your property.Â
Ventura vs. Santa Barbara Cost of Living
Are you trying to decide between moving to Ventura and moving to Santa Barbara? Both of these California cities are popular among tourists and residents. But how does the Ventura, CA cost of living compare to the Santa Barbara, CA cost of living? The Santa Barbara Cost of Living Index is 154.7, making it 54.7% more expensive than the national average and 0.07% more expensive than Ventura. Based on the Cost of Living Index, Ventura is slightly more affordable than Santa Barbara. Here is a more detailed look at the cost of living in Ventura, California vs. Santa Barbara, California.
- Average rent: $2,743 in Ventura vs. $2,836 in Santa Barbara
- Average home price: $865,000 in Ventura vs. $1.70 million in Santa Barbara
- Average monthly expenses: $9,148 in Ventura vs. $10,200 in Santa Barbara
- Average salary: $82,000 in Ventura vs. $81,000 in Santa Barbara
- Median household income: $100,073 in Ventura vs. $89,243 in Santa Barbara
Based on the information above, you can see that Ventura is more affordable than Santa Barbara in every category. Additionally, the average salary and median household income are higher in Ventura, leaving you with more money to spare in the end.
The cost of living in Ventura, CA is high, but there are many California cities where it is higher. The Ventura, CA Cost of Living Index is also worth every penny due to the amazing amenities this city has to offer. The team here at Movegreen is ready to help you settle into your new Ventura home! Give the best Ventura movers a call today at 866-684-7336 to get started with a free quote.
