Aptos, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Aptos, CA Summary

Cost of living in Aptos research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Aptos is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Aptos is 196, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Aptos is 2.0x higher than the national average.

  • Aptos ranks as the #518 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Aptos ranks as the #6,296 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Aptos is $1,332,258.

  • The median income in Aptos is $135,349.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
196
Aptos's Overall Cost Of Living
2.0x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Aptos, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Aptos has an overall cost of living index of 196, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Aptos has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in Aptos ranks as #518 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Aptos ranks as the #116 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Aptos, check out:

518 out of 634
In California
6,296 out of 6,489
In America

Aptos Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Aptos. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Aptos is 106.

  • The Groceries index in Aptos is 113.

  • The Health index in Aptos is 124.

  • The Housing index in Aptos is 383.

  • The Transportation index in Aptos is 131.

  • The Utilities index in Aptos is 131.

Living Expense Aptos California National Average
Overall 196 141 100
Services 106 110 100
Groceries 113 112 100
Health 124 110 100
Housing 383 195 100
Transportation 131 125 100
Utilities 131 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Aptos Cost of Living Vs. CA

Aptos, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Aptos is $1,332,258.

  • The Median Rent in Aptos is $1,826.

  • The Median Income in Aptos is $135,349.

  • The Home Value To Income in Aptos is 9.8x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Aptos is 0.16x.

Statistic Aptos California United States
Median Home Value $1,332,258 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $1,826 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $135,349 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 9.8x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.16x 0.24x 0.21x
$1,332,258
Median Home Value
$1,826
Median Rent
$135,349
Median Income

Aptos, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Aptos Services Costs Vs. California

Item Aptos California
Shampoo $1.66 $1.28
Movie $13.31 $12.13
Bowling $33.3 $18
Haircut $33.94 $24.26
Beauty Salon $48.51 $45.56

Detailed Aptos Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Aptos California
Ground Beef $5.79 $5.84
Fried Chicken $2.13 $1.57
Milk $5.05 $4.67
Potatoes $4.77 $4.93
Pizza $14.92 $12.09
Beer $10.99 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.72 $3.7

Detailed Aptos Health Costs Vs. California

Item Aptos California
Optometrist $158.95 $125.68
Doctor $194.05 $135.78
Dentist $147.78 $113.29

Detailed Aptos Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Aptos California
Gasoline $4.81 $3.46
Tire Balancing $65.62 $59.92

Detailed Aptos Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Aptos California
All Electricity $294.74 $193.99
Phone $190.07 $192.25

Aptos SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
10
Affordability
4
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8
Education
9
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Aptos

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Aptos. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Santa Cruz, CA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.0x Aptos.

  • Morgan Hill, CA has a cost of living index of 201, 1.0x Aptos.

  • Los Gatos, CA has a cost of living index of 308, 1.6x Aptos.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Aptos
Santa Cruz, CA 60,953 205 1.0x
Morgan Hill, CA 45,152 201 1.0x
Los Gatos, CA 32,773 308 1.6x
Prunedale, CA 19,286 165 0.8x
Live Oak, CA 16,866 115 0.6x
Scotts Valley, CA 12,138 194 1.0x
Soquel, CA 10,691 180 0.9x
Capitola, CA 9,813 183 0.9x
Rio del Mar, CA 8,938 214 1.1x
Interlaken, CA 8,191 163 0.8x

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