What is the cost of living in Benicia, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Benicia has an overall cost of living index of 169, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Benicia has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Benicia ranks as #418 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Benicia ranks as the #216 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Benicia, check out:
Benicia Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Benicia. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Benicia is 110.
The Groceries index in Benicia is 115.
The Health index in Benicia is 295.
The Housing index in Benicia is 119.
The Transportation index in Benicia is 113.
The Utilities index in Benicia is 121.
| Living Expense | Benicia | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 169 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 295 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Benicia 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 Benicia Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Benicia, 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 Benicia is $781,133.
The Median Rent in Benicia is $2,280.
The Median Income in Benicia is $121,204.
The Home Value To Income in Benicia is 6.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Benicia is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Benicia | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $781,133 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,280 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $121,204 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Benicia, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Benicia Services costs vs. California
| Item | Benicia | 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 Benicia Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Benicia | 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 Benicia Health costs vs. California
| Item | Benicia | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Benicia Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Benicia | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Benicia Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Benicia | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Benicia SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Benicia
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Benicia. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Vallejo, CA has a cost of living index of 145, 0.9x Benicia.
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 1.7x Benicia.
Napa, CA has a cost of living index of 171, 1.0x Benicia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Benicia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | 124,268 | 145 | 0.9x |
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 1.7x |
| Napa, CA | 78,239 | 171 | 1.0x |
| Martinez, CA | 36,903 | 172 | 1.0x |
| Hercules, CA | 26,302 | 170 | 1.0x |
| Lafayette, CA | 25,285 | 281 | 1.7x |
| American Canyon, CA | 21,691 | 162 | 1.0x |
| Orinda, CA | 19,514 | 274 | 1.6x |
| Piedmont, CA | 10,945 | 349 | 2.1x |
| Clayton, CA | 10,937 | 202 | 1.2x |








