That's a neat chart TB. Thanks
I compared living here in SoCal to Grand Rapids, MI which is were I lived before and got this chart.
Grand Rapids, MI
Groceries16%less
Housing43%less
Utilities10%less
Transportation5%less
Health Care10%lessThe only noticeable difference I've always known is cost of housing. 43% cheaper is quite a difference.
I know gas too is a little higher here as well. All & all to my mind, housing IS the biggest (and probably most important) expense in CA.
On the plus side, FWIW, (as far as housing goes) here in CA they have a prop 13 (which was in effect when we moved here), which states your property taxes can't be more than 1% value of your home. I know MI property taxes are quite a bit more.
TIS
Edit: HOWEVER, I know places like San Francisco are way more expensive to live as well as parts of Orange/L.A. County.