What is the cost of living in Larkspur, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Larkspur has an overall cost of living index of 256, which is 2.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Larkspur has a cost of living index that's 1.8x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Larkspur ranks as #590 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Larkspur ranks as the #44 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Larkspur, check out:
Larkspur Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Larkspur. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Larkspur is 110.
The Groceries index in Larkspur is 112.
The Health index in Larkspur is 583.
The Housing index in Larkspur is 122.
The Transportation index in Larkspur is 116.
The Utilities index in Larkspur is 115.
| Living Expense | Larkspur | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 256 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 583 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 121 | 100 |
Larkspur 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 Larkspur Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Larkspur, 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 Larkspur is $2,129,544.
The Median Rent in Larkspur is $3,001.
The Median Income in Larkspur is $140,417.
The Home Value To Income in Larkspur is 15.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Larkspur is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Larkspur | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,129,544 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,001 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $140,417 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 15.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Larkspur, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Larkspur Services costs vs. California
| Item | Larkspur | 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 Larkspur Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Larkspur | 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 Larkspur Health costs vs. California
| Item | Larkspur | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed Larkspur Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Larkspur | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Larkspur Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Larkspur | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
Larkspur SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Larkspur
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Larkspur. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Rafael, CA has a cost of living index of 211, 0.8x Larkspur.
Hercules, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 0.7x Larkspur.
Mill Valley, CA has a cost of living index of 293, 1.1x Larkspur.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Larkspur |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Rafael, CA | 60,433 | 211 | 0.8x |
| Hercules, CA | 26,302 | 170 | 0.7x |
| Mill Valley, CA | 14,012 | 293 | 1.1x |
| San Anselmo, CA | 12,679 | 235 | 0.9x |
| Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA | 12,085 | 265 | 1.0x |
| Piedmont, CA | 10,945 | 349 | 1.4x |
| Corte Madera, CA | 10,077 | 253 | 1.0x |
| Fairfax, CA | 7,516 | 200 | 0.8x |
| Kentfield, CA | 6,900 | 333 | 1.3x |
| Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA | 6,473 | 229 | 0.9x |
