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 348, 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 142.
The standard of living in Hillsborough ranks as #633 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Hillsborough ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Hillsborough, check out:
Hillsborough Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hillsborough. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Hillsborough is 110.
The Groceries index in Hillsborough is 113.
The Health index in Hillsborough is 901.
The Housing index in Hillsborough is 118.
The Transportation index in Hillsborough is 115.
The Utilities index in Hillsborough is 113.
| Living Expense | Hillsborough | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 348 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 901 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 113 | 121 | 100 |
Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Hillsborough is $5,279,135.
The Median Rent in Hillsborough is $3,501.
The Median Income in Hillsborough is $250,001.
The Home Value To Income in Hillsborough is 21.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Hillsborough is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Hillsborough | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $5,279,135 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $250,001 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 21.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 250, 0.7x Hillsborough.
South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 205, 0.6x Hillsborough.
San Bruno, CA has a cost of living index of 214, 0.6x Hillsborough.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 0.7x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 0.6x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 0.6x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.0x |
| Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | 341 | 1.0x |
| Burlingame, CA | 30,525 | 337 | 1.0x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 0.9x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.5x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 0.8x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 0.8x |
