Hillsborough, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Hillsborough, CA Summary

Cost of living in Hillsborough research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Hillsborough is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Hillsborough is 347, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Hillsborough is 3.5x higher than the national average.

  • Hillsborough ranks as the #634 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Hillsborough ranks as the #6,489 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Hillsborough is $5,062,403.

  • The median income in Hillsborough is $250,001.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
347
Hillsborough's Overall Cost Of Living
3.5x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Hillsborough, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hillsborough has an overall cost of living index of 347, which is 3.5x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Hillsborough has a cost of living index that's 2.5x higher than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in Hillsborough ranks as #634 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Hillsborough ranks as the #0 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Hillsborough, check out:

634 out of 634
In California
6,489 out of 6,489
In America

Hillsborough Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hillsborough. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Hillsborough is 120.

  • The Groceries index in Hillsborough is 122.

  • The Health index in Hillsborough is 126.

  • The Housing index in Hillsborough is 869.

  • The Transportation index in Hillsborough is 133.

  • The Utilities index in Hillsborough is 135.

Living Expense Hillsborough California National Average
Overall 347 141 100
Services 120 110 100
Groceries 122 112 100
Health 126 110 100
Housing 869 195 100
Transportation 133 125 100
Utilities 135 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Hillsborough Cost of Living Vs. CA

Hillsborough, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Hillsborough is $5,062,403.

  • The Median Rent in Hillsborough is $3,501.

  • The Median Income in Hillsborough is $250,001.

  • The Home Value To Income in Hillsborough is 20.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Hillsborough is 0.17x.

Statistic Hillsborough California United States
Median Home Value $5,062,403 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $3,501 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $250,001 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 20.2x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.24x 0.21x
$5,062,403
Median Home Value
$3,501
Median Rent
$250,001
Median Income

Hillsborough, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Hillsborough Services Costs Vs. California

Item Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough Health Costs Vs. California

Item Hillsborough California
Optometrist $159.79 $125.68
Doctor $174.45 $135.78
Dentist $155.36 $113.29

Detailed Hillsborough Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Hillsborough California
Gasoline $4.63 $3.46
Tire Balancing $75.33 $59.92

Detailed Hillsborough Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Hillsborough California
All Electricity $298.77 $193.99
Phone $203.63 $192.25

Hillsborough SnackAbility

10
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
9/10
Housing
10
Affordability
6
Diversity
9
Safety
8.5
Amenities
8.5
Education
10
Commute
4

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hillsborough

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hillsborough. 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 248, 0.7x Hillsborough.

  • South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 213, 0.6x Hillsborough.

  • San Bruno, CA has a cost of living index of 220, 0.6x Hillsborough.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Hillsborough
San Mateo, CA 103,555 248 0.7x
South San Francisco, CA 64,487 213 0.6x
San Bruno, CA 42,612 220 0.6x
Menlo Park, CA 32,775 334 1.0x
Los Altos, CA 30,736 339 1.0x
Burlingame, CA 30,526 336 1.0x
San Carlos, CA 29,797 311 0.9x
San Lorenzo, CA 29,453 170 0.5x
Belmont, CA 27,505 294 0.8x
Millbrae, CA 22,589 289 0.8x

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