What is the cost of living in Mill Valley, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mill Valley has an overall cost of living index of 293, which is 2.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Mill Valley has a cost of living index that's 2.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Mill Valley ranks as #608 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Mill Valley ranks as the #26 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Mill Valley, check out:
Mill Valley Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mill Valley. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mill Valley is 110.
The Groceries index in Mill Valley is 114.
The Health index in Mill Valley is 703.
The Housing index in Mill Valley is 121.
The Transportation index in Mill Valley is 117.
The Utilities index in Mill Valley is 115.
| Living Expense | Mill Valley | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 293 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 703 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 121 | 100 |
Mill Valley 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 Mill Valley Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mill Valley, 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 Mill Valley is $2,073,166.
The Median Rent in Mill Valley is $3,278.
The Median Income in Mill Valley is $206,212.
The Home Value To Income in Mill Valley is 10.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mill Valley is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Mill Valley | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,073,166 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,278 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $206,212 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Mill Valley, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Mill Valley Services costs vs. California
| Item | Mill Valley | 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 Mill Valley Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Mill Valley | 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 Mill Valley Health costs vs. California
| Item | Mill Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mill Valley Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Mill Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mill Valley Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Mill Valley | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
Mill Valley SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mill Valley
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mill Valley. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 205, 0.7x Mill Valley.
Hercules, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 0.6x Mill Valley.
Larkspur, CA has a cost of living index of 256, 0.9x Mill Valley.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mill Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 0.7x |
| Hercules, CA | 26,302 | 170 | 0.6x |
| Larkspur, CA | 12,854 | 256 | 0.9x |
| San Anselmo, CA | 12,679 | 235 | 0.8x |
| Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA | 12,085 | 265 | 0.9x |
| Piedmont, CA | 10,945 | 349 | 1.2x |
| Corte Madera, CA | 10,077 | 253 | 0.9x |
| Fairfax, CA | 7,516 | 200 | 0.7x |
| Sausalito, CA | 7,141 | 289 | 1.0x |
| Kentfield, CA | 6,900 | 333 | 1.1x |
