What is the cost of living in Alpine, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Alpine has an overall cost of living index of 172, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Alpine has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Alpine ranks as #435 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Alpine ranks as the #199 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Alpine, check out:
Alpine Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Alpine. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Alpine is 112.
The Groceries index in Alpine is 116.
The Health index in Alpine is 291.
The Housing index in Alpine is 120.
The Transportation index in Alpine is 121.
The Utilities index in Alpine is 127.
| Living Expense | Alpine | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 172 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 291 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 127 | 121 | 100 |
Alpine 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 Alpine Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Alpine, 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 Alpine is $964,684.
The Median Rent in Alpine is $1,973.
The Median Income in Alpine is $108,660.
The Home Value To Income in Alpine is 8.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Alpine is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Alpine | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $964,684 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,973 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $108,660 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Alpine, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Alpine Services costs vs. California
| Item | Alpine | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.5 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.89 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.92 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.77 | $45.56 |
Detailed Alpine Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Alpine | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.05 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.98 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Alpine Health costs vs. California
| Item | Alpine | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $138.66 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.37 | $113.29 |
Detailed Alpine Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Alpine | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.68 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.4 | $59.92 |
Detailed Alpine Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Alpine | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $223.42 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Alpine SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Alpine
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Alpine. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Santee, CA has a cost of living index of 155, 0.9x Alpine.
Poway, CA has a cost of living index of 179, 1.0x Alpine.
La Presa, CA has a cost of living index of 145, 0.8x Alpine.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Alpine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santee, CA | 59,332 | 155 | 0.9x |
| Poway, CA | 48,713 | 179 | 1.0x |
| La Presa, CA | 34,962 | 145 | 0.8x |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 27,686 | 145 | 0.8x |
| Winter Gardens, CA | 22,131 | 149 | 0.9x |
| Rancho San Diego, CA | 21,272 | 172 | 1.0x |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA | 19,765 | 171 | 1.0x |
| Bostonia, CA | 16,765 | 140 | 0.8x |
| Bonita, CA | 12,652 | 177 | 1.0x |
| San Diego Country Estates, CA | 10,223 | 161 | 0.9x |
