What is the cost of living in Half Moon Bay, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Half Moon Bay has an overall cost of living index of 227, which is 2.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Half Moon Bay has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Half Moon Bay ranks as #568 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Half Moon Bay ranks as the #66 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Half Moon Bay, check out:
Half Moon Bay Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Half Moon Bay. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Half Moon Bay is 113.
The Groceries index in Half Moon Bay is 113.
The Health index in Half Moon Bay is 496.
The Housing index in Half Moon Bay is 117.
The Transportation index in Half Moon Bay is 116.
The Utilities index in Half Moon Bay is 117.
| Living Expense | Half Moon Bay | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 227 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 496 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
Half Moon Bay 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 Half Moon Bay Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Half Moon Bay, 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 Half Moon Bay is $1,573,307.
The Median Rent in Half Moon Bay is $2,433.
The Median Income in Half Moon Bay is $157,884.
The Home Value To Income in Half Moon Bay is 10.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Half Moon Bay is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Half Moon Bay | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,573,307 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,433 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $157,884 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Half Moon Bay, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Half Moon Bay Services costs vs. California
| Item | Half Moon Bay | 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 Half Moon Bay Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Half Moon Bay | 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 Half Moon Bay Health costs vs. California
| Item | Half Moon Bay | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed Half Moon Bay Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Half Moon Bay | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Half Moon Bay Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Half Moon Bay | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
Half Moon Bay SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Half Moon Bay
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Half Moon Bay. 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, 1.1x Half Moon Bay.
South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 205, 0.9x Half Moon Bay.
San Bruno, CA has a cost of living index of 214, 0.9x Half Moon Bay.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Half Moon Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 1.1x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 0.9x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 0.9x |
| Pacifica, CA | 37,261 | 212 | 0.9x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.5x |
| Burlingame, CA | 30,525 | 337 | 1.5x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.4x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 1.3x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 1.3x |
| North Fair Oaks, CA | 13,100 | 221 | 1.0x |
