What is the cost of living in Alameda, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Alameda has an overall cost of living index of 207, which is 2.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Alameda has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Alameda ranks as #540 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Alameda ranks as the #94 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Alameda, check out:
Alameda Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Alameda. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Alameda is 112.
The Groceries index in Alameda is 116.
The Health index in Alameda is 415.
The Housing index in Alameda is 121.
The Transportation index in Alameda is 120.
The Utilities index in Alameda is 119.
| Living Expense | Alameda | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 207 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 415 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Alameda Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Alameda Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Alameda, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Alameda is $1,155,483.
The Median Rent in Alameda is $2,474.
The Median Income in Alameda is $137,697.
The Home Value To Income in Alameda is 8.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Alameda is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Alameda | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,155,483 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,474 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $137,697 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Alameda, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Alameda Services costs vs. California
| Item | Alameda | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.45 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $27.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Alameda Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Alameda | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.18 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Alameda Health costs vs. California
| Item | Alameda | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Alameda Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Alameda | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Alameda Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Alameda | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Alameda SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Alameda
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Alameda. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Oakland, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 0.9x Alameda.
Berkeley, CA has a cost of living index of 222, 1.1x Alameda.
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 1.2x Alameda.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Alameda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland, CA | 439,418 | 190 | 0.9x |
| Berkeley, CA | 120,257 | 222 | 1.1x |
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 1.2x |
| San Leandro, CA | 87,826 | 172 | 0.8x |
| San Ramon, CA | 85,993 | 221 | 1.1x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 1.0x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 1.0x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.5x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.8x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 1.4x |
