What is the cost of living in Atherton, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Atherton has an overall cost of living index of 347, which is 3.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Atherton has a cost of living index that's 2.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Atherton ranks as #632 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Atherton ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Atherton, check out:
Atherton Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Atherton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Atherton is 109.
The Groceries index in Atherton is 114.
The Health index in Atherton is 899.
The Housing index in Atherton is 114.
The Transportation index in Atherton is 115.
The Utilities index in Atherton is 115.
| Living Expense | Atherton | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 347 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 899 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 121 | 100 |
Atherton 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 Atherton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Atherton, 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 Atherton is $7,890,840.
The Median Rent in Atherton is $3,501.
The Median Income in Atherton is $250,001.
The Home Value To Income in Atherton is 31.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Atherton is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Atherton | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $7,890,840 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $250,001 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 31.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Atherton, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Atherton Services costs vs. California
| Item | Atherton | 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 Atherton Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Atherton | 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 Atherton Health costs vs. California
| Item | Atherton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Atherton Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Atherton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Atherton Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Atherton | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Atherton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Atherton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Atherton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sunnyvale, CA has a cost of living index of 271, 0.8x Atherton.
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 0.7x Atherton.
Cupertino, CA has a cost of living index of 329, 0.9x Atherton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Atherton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 154,236 | 271 | 0.8x |
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 0.7x |
| Cupertino, CA | 58,566 | 329 | 0.9x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 0.6x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.0x |
| Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | 341 | 1.0x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 0.9x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.5x |
| East Palo Alto, CA | 29,069 | 211 | 0.6x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 0.8x |
