What is the cost of living in Albany, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Albany has an overall cost of living index of 205, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Albany has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Albany ranks as #536 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Albany ranks as the #98 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Albany, check out:
Albany Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Albany. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Albany is 116.
The Groceries index in Albany is 113.
The Health index in Albany is 405.
The Housing index in Albany is 127.
The Transportation index in Albany is 124.
The Utilities index in Albany is 131.
| Living Expense | Albany | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 205 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 116 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 405 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 127 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 131 | 121 | 100 |
Albany 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 Albany Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Albany, 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 Albany is $1,261,176.
The Median Rent in Albany is $2,445.
The Median Income in Albany is $144,107.
The Home Value To Income in Albany is 8.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Albany is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Albany | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,261,176 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,445 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $144,107 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Albany, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Albany Services costs vs. California
| Item | Albany | 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 Albany Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Albany | 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 Albany Health costs vs. California
| Item | Albany | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Albany Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Albany | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Albany Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Albany | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Albany SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Albany
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Albany. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Berkeley, CA has a cost of living index of 222, 1.1x Albany.
Richmond, CA has a cost of living index of 153, 0.7x Albany.
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 1.4x Albany.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley, CA | 120,257 | 222 | 1.1x |
| Richmond, CA | 115,505 | 153 | 0.7x |
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 1.4x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 1.0x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 1.0x |
| San Pablo, CA | 31,720 | 141 | 0.7x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.8x |
| El Cerrito, CA | 25,994 | 203 | 1.0x |
| Lafayette, CA | 25,285 | 281 | 1.4x |
| Emeryville, CA | 13,081 | 172 | 0.8x |
