What is the cost of living in Corte Madera, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Corte Madera has an overall cost of living index of 253, which is 2.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Corte Madera has a cost of living index that's 1.8x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Corte Madera ranks as #589 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Corte Madera ranks as the #45 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Corte Madera, check out:
Corte Madera Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Corte Madera. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Corte Madera is 110.
The Groceries index in Corte Madera is 115.
The Health index in Corte Madera is 579.
The Housing index in Corte Madera is 121.
The Transportation index in Corte Madera is 117.
The Utilities index in Corte Madera is 112.
| Living Expense | Corte Madera | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 253 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 579 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 121 | 100 |
Corte Madera 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 Corte Madera Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Corte Madera, 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 Corte Madera is $1,838,958.
The Median Rent in Corte Madera is $3,501.
The Median Income in Corte Madera is $232,763.
The Home Value To Income in Corte Madera is 7.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Corte Madera is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Corte Madera | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,838,958 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $232,763 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Corte Madera, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Corte Madera Services costs vs. California
| Item | Corte Madera | 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 Corte Madera Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Corte Madera | 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 Corte Madera Health costs vs. California
| Item | Corte Madera | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed Corte Madera Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Corte Madera | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Corte Madera Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Corte Madera | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
Corte Madera SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Corte Madera
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Corte Madera. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Rafael, CA has a cost of living index of 211, 0.8x Corte Madera.
Hercules, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 0.7x Corte Madera.
Orinda, CA has a cost of living index of 274, 1.1x Corte Madera.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Corte Madera |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Rafael, CA | 60,433 | 211 | 0.8x |
| Hercules, CA | 26,302 | 170 | 0.7x |
| Orinda, CA | 19,514 | 274 | 1.1x |
| Mill Valley, CA | 14,012 | 293 | 1.2x |
| Larkspur, CA | 12,854 | 256 | 1.0x |
| San Anselmo, CA | 12,679 | 235 | 0.9x |
| Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA | 12,085 | 265 | 1.0x |
| Piedmont, CA | 10,945 | 349 | 1.4x |
| Tiburon, CA | 9,012 | 342 | 1.4x |
| Fairfax, CA | 7,516 | 200 | 0.8x |
