What is the cost of living in Hercules, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hercules has an overall cost of living index of 170, which is 1.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Hercules has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Hercules ranks as #421 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Hercules ranks as the #213 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Hercules, check out:
Hercules Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hercules. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Hercules is 112.
The Groceries index in Hercules is 114.
The Health index in Hercules is 302.
The Housing index in Hercules is 117.
The Transportation index in Hercules is 118.
The Utilities index in Hercules is 114.
| Living Expense | Hercules | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 170 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 302 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 121 | 100 |
Hercules 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 Hercules Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Hercules, 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 Hercules is $754,022.
The Median Rent in Hercules is $2,991.
The Median Income in Hercules is $129,397.
The Home Value To Income in Hercules is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Hercules is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Hercules | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $754,022 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,991 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $129,397 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Hercules, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Hercules Services costs vs. California
| Item | Hercules | 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 Hercules Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Hercules | 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 Hercules Health costs vs. California
| Item | Hercules | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Hercules Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Hercules | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Hercules Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Hercules | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Hercules SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hercules
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hercules. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 1.7x Hercules.
Martinez, CA has a cost of living index of 172, 1.0x Hercules.
San Pablo, CA has a cost of living index of 141, 0.8x Hercules.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Hercules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 1.7x |
| Martinez, CA | 36,903 | 172 | 1.0x |
| San Pablo, CA | 31,720 | 141 | 0.8x |
| Lafayette, CA | 25,285 | 281 | 1.7x |
| American Canyon, CA | 21,691 | 162 | 1.0x |
| Orinda, CA | 19,514 | 274 | 1.6x |
| Pinole, CA | 18,761 | 162 | 1.0x |
| Piedmont, CA | 10,945 | 349 | 2.1x |
| Rodeo, CA | 8,976 | 152 | 0.9x |
| Fairfax, CA | 7,516 | 200 | 1.2x |
