What's the cost of living in Alameda, California in 2023?
Having lived in Alameda, California for over a decade, and regularly working with buyers and sellers in the area, we thought it’d be worthwhile to break down the monthly expenses of living here. This encompasses housing expenses, along with groceries, utilities, gas, and more. Let’s dive in with the first one, which is the housing cost.
Housing Cost
If you’re considering buying a single-family home in Alameda in 2023, the average price is around $1.2 million, as reported by Zillow. This figure closely aligns with the experiences of the buyers and sellers we assist. Alameda also offers condominiums and townhouses, typically available at a lower price point. You can check the average Alameda home values from Zillow by clicking on this link.
Property Taxes
We’re subject to a base tax rate of 1.1726% (as of this writing), which translates to $13,930 annually, or slightly over a thousand dollars per month, based on the average home price of around $1.2M as of the recording of this video.
It’s worth noting that some communities on the island may have higher property taxes due to Melaroos or other assessments, so it’s essential to review your tax bill for accuracy. Nevertheless, this is a reliable starting point for property tax estimation .
If you’re considering exploring Oakland or another East Bay City, just for reference, Oakland’s base tax rate is 1.3771%, which is slightly higher than Alameda’s property tax rate.
Sales Tax
In Alameda, California, our sales tax rate stands at 10.75%, which is slightly higher than Oakland and Berkeley, which are both at 10.25%. When you’re out shopping or dining in Alameda, be sure to factor in this sales tax rate.
California City & County Sales & Use Tax Rates can be viewed by clicking on this link.
Food Cost
Speaking of dining out and grocery shopping, according to livingcost.org, the average monthly food cost here in Alameda is approximately $716 per person or $1,857 for a family of four.
Of course, this figure can vary depending on your dining habits, whether you indulge in drinks or appetizers, and the type of groceries you buy. Nevertheless, this estimate aligns well with the feedback we’ve received from others in the area.
Gas/Fuel
Next up, let’s talk about fueling up your car with gas. At the time of recording this video, the average price for a gallon of gas is $5.21. However, it’s worth noting that many residents in Alameda, as well as across the country, are opting for electric vehicles. So whether this applies to you or not depends on whether you have a gas-powered car or an electric one.
Electricity
Alameda has its own electricity provider, Alameda Municipal Power. On average, as reported on their website, people are spending between 19 and 23 cents per kilowatt-hour for their entire electricity bill. Similar to PG&E’s billing structure, it operates on a tiered system, meaning that if you exceed a certain usage threshold, you’ll incur higher charges. Nevertheless, this average is roughly 40-50% lower than what PG&E customers pay for the same amount of usage, according to Alameda Municipal Power’s website.
Natural Gas
While Alameda has its own electricity company, we rely on PG&E for natural gas. Consequently, the gas rates here are the same as PG&E’s, which stands at $1.60 per therm. So, by reviewing your monthly gas usage on your bill, you can estimate your gas expenses if you were to move to Alameda.
Trash Disposal
Now, turning to trash recycling and compost, Alameda boasts a citywide composting program. Costs here vary depending on factors like the size and number of bins, additional weekly pickups, and any specific needs, which you can read more about from this link.
On average, most homeowners can expect to spend between $120 and $350 per month for weekly pickups. There are optional add-ons available if you require extra cans or pickups, or if you have unique circumstances. This cost range is what we and many of our clients pay, making it quite typical for households in the area.
Water/Sewer
Lastly, when it comes to utilities, let’s delve into water and sewer services provided by the East Bay Municipal Utility District, commonly known as East Bay MUD. Deciphering their tiered programs can be a bit complex, but as a reference point, we spend approximately $130 per month on our water and sewer bill.
Of course, this amount can vary based on factors such as the number of people in your household, the size of your home, and the number of bathrooms. But for a typical 2,000-square-foot home with two occupants, this is a reasonable estimate.
That rounds out our cost of living video. If you think we missed anything, if you want more clarity on any of these topics, don’t hesitate to reach out, we’d love to hear from you.
And if you’re thinking about a move here to Alameda, we would be honored to be your real estate advisors of choice. The first step to that is to download our neighborhood guide, that will break down all the micro neighborhoods, give you a ton of recommendations of places to go check out, hang out, eat, drink, meet, gather, etc. as well as schools and so forth. So make sure you go download that by filling out the form below. Thank you so much for watching our video and we look forward to seeing you on the next one.
THE ALAMEDA NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE
Download the guide below to learn about the distinct neighborhoods in Alameda, along with our recommendations of where to eat, drink, and do in each one.
WE hope our guide to the cost of living in Alameda, California in 2023 has helped you.
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