What is the cost of living in Belmont, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Belmont has an overall cost of living index of 286, which is 2.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Belmont has a cost of living index that's 2.0x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Belmont ranks as #602 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Belmont ranks as the #32 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Belmont, check out:
Belmont Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Belmont. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Belmont is 109.
The Groceries index in Belmont is 109.
The Health index in Belmont is 684.
The Housing index in Belmont is 113.
The Transportation index in Belmont is 112.
The Utilities index in Belmont is 121.
| Living Expense | Belmont | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 286 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 684 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Belmont 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 Belmont Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Belmont, 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 Belmont is $2,332,686.
The Median Rent in Belmont is $2,875.
The Median Income in Belmont is $205,297.
The Home Value To Income in Belmont is 11.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Belmont is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Belmont | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,332,686 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,875 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $205,297 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Belmont, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Belmont Services costs vs. California
| Item | Belmont | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.65 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.02 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.01 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.38 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $85.43 | $45.56 |
Detailed Belmont Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Belmont | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.23 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.11 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.18 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.74 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.09 | $3.7 |
Detailed Belmont Health costs vs. California
| Item | Belmont | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed Belmont Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Belmont | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Belmont Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Belmont | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
Belmont SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Belmont
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Belmont. 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, 0.9x Belmont.
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 0.9x Belmont.
Cupertino, CA has a cost of living index of 329, 1.2x Belmont.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 154,236 | 271 | 0.9x |
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 0.9x |
| Cupertino, CA | 58,566 | 329 | 1.2x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 0.7x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.2x |
| Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | 341 | 1.2x |
| Burlingame, CA | 30,525 | 337 | 1.2x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.1x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.6x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 1.0x |
