What is the cost of living in Gilroy, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gilroy has an overall cost of living index of 180, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Gilroy has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Gilroy ranks as #469 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Gilroy ranks as the #165 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Gilroy, check out:
Gilroy Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Gilroy. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Gilroy is 111.
The Groceries index in Gilroy is 115.
The Health index in Gilroy is 334.
The Housing index in Gilroy is 116.
The Transportation index in Gilroy is 119.
The Utilities index in Gilroy is 115.
| Living Expense | Gilroy | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 180 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 334 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 121 | 100 |
Gilroy 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 Gilroy Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Gilroy, 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 Gilroy is $1,081,221.
The Median Rent in Gilroy is $2,301.
The Median Income in Gilroy is $133,107.
The Home Value To Income in Gilroy is 8.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Gilroy is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Gilroy | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,081,221 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,301 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $133,107 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Gilroy, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Gilroy Services costs vs. California
| Item | Gilroy | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.66 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $33.3 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.51 | $45.56 |
Detailed Gilroy Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Gilroy | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.79 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.13 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.05 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.77 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.92 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Gilroy Health costs vs. California
| Item | Gilroy | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Gilroy Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Gilroy | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Gilroy Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Gilroy | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Gilroy SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gilroy
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gilroy. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Watsonville, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 0.8x Gilroy.
Morgan Hill, CA has a cost of living index of 202, 1.1x Gilroy.
Hollister, CA has a cost of living index of 155, 0.9x Gilroy.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Gilroy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 51,712 | 151 | 0.8x |
| Morgan Hill, CA | 45,425 | 202 | 1.1x |
| Hollister, CA | 43,811 | 155 | 0.9x |
| Prunedale, CA | 19,723 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Rio del Mar, CA | 9,201 | 214 | 1.2x |
| Interlaken, CA | 8,068 | 160 | 0.9x |
| San Martin, CA | 6,954 | 214 | 1.2x |
| Castroville, CA | 6,720 | 159 | 0.9x |
| Aptos, CA | 6,404 | 198 | 1.1x |
