What is the cost of living in Burlingame, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Burlingame has an overall cost of living index of 337, which is 3.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Burlingame has a cost of living index that's 2.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Burlingame ranks as #620 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Burlingame ranks as the #14 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Burlingame, check out:
Burlingame Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Burlingame. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Burlingame is 112.
The Groceries index in Burlingame is 110.
The Health index in Burlingame is 857.
The Housing index in Burlingame is 118.
The Transportation index in Burlingame is 118.
The Utilities index in Burlingame is 113.
| Living Expense | Burlingame | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 337 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 857 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 121 | 100 |
Burlingame 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 Burlingame Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Burlingame, 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 Burlingame is $2,761,629.
The Median Rent in Burlingame is $2,785.
The Median Income in Burlingame is $174,000.
The Home Value To Income in Burlingame is 15.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Burlingame is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Burlingame | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,761,629 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,785 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $174,000 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 15.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Burlingame, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Burlingame Services costs vs. California
| Item | Burlingame | 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 Burlingame Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Burlingame | 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 Burlingame Health costs vs. California
| Item | Burlingame | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed Burlingame Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Burlingame | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Burlingame Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Burlingame | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
Burlingame SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Burlingame
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Burlingame. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 0.7x Burlingame.
South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 205, 0.6x Burlingame.
San Bruno, CA has a cost of living index of 214, 0.6x Burlingame.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Burlingame |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 0.7x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 0.6x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 0.6x |
| Pacifica, CA | 37,261 | 212 | 0.6x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.0x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 0.9x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.5x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 0.8x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 0.9x |
| North Fair Oaks, CA | 13,100 | 221 | 0.7x |
