Cost of living is the amount of money necessary to cover an individual’s basic expenses in a particular location and time period. This includes housing, food, transportation, utilities, healthcare, and miscellaneous expenses.
Learning about Fremont California cost of living can be helpful in comparing the affordability of living in this city to your current place of residence if you are considering relocating here.
This can also help you assess if your plans of moving would be beneficial for you and your family, given your projected income.
Overall Cost of Living in Fremont, CA
To live comfortably in Fremont, CA, a family would require a minimum annual income of $258,480. For a single person, an annual income of $102,800 is recommended.
Knowing the Fremont CA cost of living index is particularly helpful if you are considering moving to this city and you want to see if living in this region would be beneficial for you given your projected income.
Below is a table showing the cost of living in Fremont, CA, to give you an idea how expensive or affordable this location is relative to the rest of the country.
Cost of Living | Fremont | California | United States |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | 195.5 | 149.9 | 100 |
Grocery | 114.4 | 105.1 | 100 |
Health | 116.8 | 98.3 | 100 |
Housing | 460.9 | 234.8 | 100 |
Utilities | 95 | 102.4 | 100 |
Transportation | 124.5 | 133.1 | 100 |
Miscellaneous | 159.2 | 118.7 | 100 |
This index is based on a national average of 100. So, for example, if the COL index of housing in Fremont is 460.9, then it is 360.9% higher than the national average.
Beyond these indexes, let’s take a look at the average cost of the basic expenses in Fremont, CA.
Housing Costs
A typical home in Fremont, CA, costs $1,348,500. Compared to the national average of $338,100, this is 298.8% more expensive. Relative to the state average of $733,500, this amount is 83.8% more expensive.
The average rent in Fremont CA for a two-bedroom unit is $3,140 per month. This is 119.6% more than the national average of $1,430 and 31.5% more than the state average of $2,150.
Utilities and Energy Costs
Utilities are the lowest expenses in Fremont, CA, and are 5% lower than the national average.
Utilities in Fremont, CA | Average Cost |
---|---|
Basic electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage for an 85m2 apartment | $331.25 |
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data | $48.21 |
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $68.88 |
Transportation Expenses
In Fremont, CA, 63.5% of commuters drive to work, while 6.0% use public transportation. Another 1.8% walk to work, and 0.8% ride a bike. The average commute time is 41.0 minutes, which is more than the national average.
Transportation in Fremont, CA | Average Cost |
---|---|
Local Transport Ticket | $5.25 |
Monthly Pass Local Transport | $84.00 |
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | $27.69 |
Gas / Petroleum (1 liter / 0.26 gallon) | $1.27 |
Food and Dining Costs
The cost of groceries in Fremont, CA, is 14.4% higher than the national average.
Below is a list of common food and beverage grocery items, as well as dining options, along with their average prices.
Cost of Grocery Items | Average Cost |
---|---|
Milk (1 liter) | $1.30 |
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | $4.72 |
Eggs (regular, 12) | $4.72 |
Rice (white, 1kg) | $3.65 |
Local Cheese (1kg) | $17.64 |
Beef Round Back Leg Red Meat (1kg) | $19.80 |
Apples (1kg) | $5.58 |
Banana (1kg) | $2.02 |
Oranges (1kg) | $3.85 |
Tomato (1kg) | $6.44 |
Potato (1kg) | $3.61 |
Onion (1kg) | $4.50 |
Lettuce (1 head) | $2.59 |
Water (1.5-liter bottle) | $2.22 |
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $15.00 |
Domestic Beer (0.5-liter bottle) | $2.00 |
Imported Beer (0.33-liter bottle) | $2.75 |
Dining Options at Restaurants | Average Cost |
---|---|
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $20.00 |
Three-Course Meal for 2 People at a Mid-Range Restaurant | $80.00 |
Combo Meal at a Fast-Food Restaurant | $11.00 |
Domestic Beer (0.5-liter draught) | $8.00 |
Imported Beer (0.33-liter bottle) | $8.00 |
Cappuccino (regular) | $5.56 |
Coke/Pepsi (0.33-liter bottle) | $2.68 |
Water (0.33-liter bottle) | $2.20 |
Healthcare Costs
Healthcare in Fremont, CA, is 16.8% more expensive relative to the rest of the country.
The table below shows that the costs for visits to medical practitioners are 26% to 43% higher than the national average. For medicines, the cost of Ibuprofen is around 8% more expensive in Fremont, while the cost of Lipitor is 17% more affordable.
Healthcare | Average Cost | National Average |
---|---|---|
Optometrist | $158.95 | $390.15 |
Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Ibuprofen | $11.51 | $10.65 |
Lipitor | $390.15 | $468.60 |
Childcare and Education Costs
Fremont, CA, is home to excellent schools with great ratings, making it a desirable place to live for families.
Aside from public schools that provide top-notch education and plenty of opportunities for students to excel, the city also offers a variety of educational options, such as private and charter schools.
Childcare and Education in Fremont, CA | Average Cost |
---|---|
Preschool or Kindergarten (full day, private, monthly for 1 child) | $1,600.00 |
International Primary School (yearly for 1 child) | $26,000.00 |
Recreation and Entertainment Expenses
Miscellaneous expenses are 59.2% higher in Fremont, CA, compared to the national average. This includes the costs of recreational activities and entertainment, such as the ones in the table below:
Sports And Leisure | Average Cost |
---|---|
Fitness Club, monthly fee for 1 adult | $36.66 |
Tennis Court Rent (1 hour on weekends) | $8.00 |
Cinema (International release, 1 seat) | $15.00 |
Cost of Living Comparison
To better understand the cost of living in Fremont, CA, let us look at its neighboring cities, San Jose and Oakland.
Cost of Living | Fremont | San Jose | Oakland | United States |
---|---|---|---|---|
Overall | 195.5 | 231.0 | 195.5 | 100 |
Grocery | 114.4 | 113.7 | 111.3 | 100 |
Health | 116.8 | 107.7 | 116.8 | 100 |
Housing | 460.9 | 428.5 | 316.6 | 100 |
Utilities | 95 | 97 | 90.3 | 100 |
Transportation | 124.5 | 151.0 | 125.8 | 100 |
Miscellaneous | 159.2 | 155.8 | 158.5 | 100 |
From the table above, you can see that Fremont and Oakland have the same overall cost of living index, at 195.5, while San Jose is much higher, at 231.
To live comfortably in Fremont, the recommended annual income for a family is at least $258,480, and for a single person, is $102,800. In Oakland, the minimum annual income recommended for a family is $156,960, and for a single person, $72,800.
In San Jose, the recommended annual income for a family is at least $226,800, and for an individual, $100,800.
Conclusion
Fremont, CA, may have a high cost of living, but this premier city in the Bay Area offers an exceptional quality of life that makes it highly appealing.
If you’d like to know more about the real estate properties in Fremont, CA, feel free to contact our team today. Please give us a call at (408) 946-2100 or send us an email at husain.realty@gmail.com for inquiries or to schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fremont affordable?
Taking the overall cost of living index and housing expenses in Fremont, CA, one can see that it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. The overall cost of living is 95.5% higher than the national average, and the median home price is 360.9% more expensive than what most folks pay across the country.
What’s the average salary in Fremont?
The average income in this city is $142,374, 157.4% higher than the national average.
Is Fremont good for families?
Yes, this city offers good schools, making it ideal for families with young children.