What is the cost of living in Fairfax, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fairfax has an overall cost of living index of 200, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Fairfax has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Fairfax ranks as #524 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Fairfax ranks as the #110 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Fairfax, check out:
Fairfax Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fairfax. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fairfax is 107.
The Groceries index in Fairfax is 113.
The Health index in Fairfax is 394.
The Housing index in Fairfax is 122.
The Transportation index in Fairfax is 115.
The Utilities index in Fairfax is 113.
| Living Expense | Fairfax | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 200 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 394 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 121 | 100 |
Fairfax 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 Fairfax Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fairfax, 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 Fairfax is $1,213,199.
The Median Rent in Fairfax is $2,367.
The Median Income in Fairfax is $141,653.
The Home Value To Income in Fairfax is 8.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fairfax is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Fairfax | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,213,199 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,367 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $141,653 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Fairfax, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Fairfax Services costs vs. California
| Item | Fairfax | 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 Fairfax Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Fairfax | 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 Fairfax Health costs vs. California
| Item | Fairfax | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fairfax Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Fairfax | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fairfax Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Fairfax | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
Fairfax SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fairfax
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fairfax. 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, 1.1x Fairfax.
Petaluma, CA has a cost of living index of 178, 0.9x Fairfax.
Hercules, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 0.8x Fairfax.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Rafael, CA | 60,433 | 211 | 1.1x |
| Petaluma, CA | 59,247 | 178 | 0.9x |
| Hercules, CA | 26,302 | 170 | 0.8x |
| Mill Valley, CA | 14,012 | 293 | 1.5x |
| Larkspur, CA | 12,854 | 256 | 1.3x |
| San Anselmo, CA | 12,679 | 235 | 1.2x |
| Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA | 12,085 | 265 | 1.3x |
| Corte Madera, CA | 10,077 | 253 | 1.3x |
| Kentfield, CA | 6,900 | 333 | 1.7x |
| Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA | 6,473 | 229 | 1.1x |
