What is the cost of living in Castro Valley, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Castro Valley has an overall cost of living index of 195, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Castro Valley has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Castro Valley ranks as #509 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Castro Valley ranks as the #125 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Castro Valley, check out:
Castro Valley Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Castro Valley. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Castro Valley is 109.
The Groceries index in Castro Valley is 118.
The Health index in Castro Valley is 375.
The Housing index in Castro Valley is 116.
The Transportation index in Castro Valley is 124.
The Utilities index in Castro Valley is 118.
| Living Expense | Castro Valley | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 195 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 375 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 121 | 100 |
Castro Valley 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 Castro Valley Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Castro Valley, 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 Castro Valley is $1,121,693.
The Median Rent in Castro Valley is $2,554.
The Median Income in Castro Valley is $142,779.
The Home Value To Income in Castro Valley is 7.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Castro Valley is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Castro Valley | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,121,693 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,554 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $142,779 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Castro Valley, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Castro Valley Services costs vs. California
| Item | Castro Valley | 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 Castro Valley Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Castro Valley | 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 Castro Valley Health costs vs. California
| Item | Castro Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Castro Valley Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Castro Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Castro Valley Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Castro Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Castro Valley SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Castro Valley
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Castro Valley. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Hayward, CA has a cost of living index of 174, 0.9x Castro Valley.
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 1.3x Castro Valley.
San Leandro, CA has a cost of living index of 172, 0.9x Castro Valley.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Castro Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward, CA | 158,801 | 174 | 0.9x |
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 1.3x |
| San Leandro, CA | 87,826 | 172 | 0.9x |
| San Ramon, CA | 85,993 | 221 | 1.1x |
| Pleasanton, CA | 76,960 | 232 | 1.2x |
| Danville, CA | 43,401 | 233 | 1.2x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.7x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.6x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.9x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 1.5x |
