Millbrae, CA Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Millbrae, CA Summary

Cost of living in Millbrae 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 Millbrae 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 Millbrae is 289, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Millbrae is 2.9x higher than the national average.

  • Millbrae ranks as the #605 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Millbrae ranks as the #6,459 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Millbrae is $1,942,938.

  • The median income in Millbrae is $157,567.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
289
Millbrae's Overall Cost Of Living
2.9x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Millbrae, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Millbrae has an overall cost of living index of 289, which is 2.9x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Millbrae has a cost of living index that's 2.0x higher than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in Millbrae ranks as #605 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Millbrae ranks as the #29 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Millbrae, check out:

605 out of 634
In California
6,459 out of 6,489
In America

Millbrae Cost Of Living Vs. California

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

  • The Services index in Millbrae is 120.

  • The Groceries index in Millbrae is 124.

  • The Health index in Millbrae is 123.

  • The Housing index in Millbrae is 667.

  • The Transportation index in Millbrae is 132.

  • The Utilities index in Millbrae is 135.

Living Expense Millbrae California National Average
Overall 289 141 100
Services 120 110 100
Groceries 124 112 100
Health 123 110 100
Housing 667 195 100
Transportation 132 125 100
Utilities 135 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Millbrae Cost of Living Vs. CA

Millbrae, 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 Millbrae is $1,942,938.

  • The Median Rent in Millbrae is $3,401.

  • The Median Income in Millbrae is $157,567.

  • The Home Value To Income in Millbrae is 12.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Millbrae is 0.26x.

Statistic Millbrae California United States
Median Home Value $1,942,938 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $3,401 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $157,567 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 12.3x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.26x 0.24x 0.21x
$1,942,938
Median Home Value
$3,401
Median Rent
$157,567
Median Income

Millbrae, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Millbrae Services Costs Vs. California

Item Millbrae 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 Millbrae Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Millbrae 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 Millbrae Health Costs Vs. California

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

Detailed Millbrae Transportation Costs Vs. California

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

Detailed Millbrae Utilities Costs Vs. California

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

Millbrae SnackAbility

7.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
10
Affordability
3
Diversity
9.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9.5
Education
8.5
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Millbrae

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Millbrae. 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, 0.9x Millbrae.

  • South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 213, 0.7x Millbrae.

  • San Bruno, CA has a cost of living index of 220, 0.8x Millbrae.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Millbrae
San Mateo, CA 103,555 248 0.9x
South San Francisco, CA 64,487 213 0.7x
San Bruno, CA 42,612 220 0.8x
Pacifica, CA 37,527 220 0.8x
Menlo Park, CA 32,775 334 1.2x
Burlingame, CA 30,526 336 1.2x
San Carlos, CA 29,797 311 1.1x
San Lorenzo, CA 29,453 170 0.6x
Belmont, CA 27,505 294 1.0x
North Fair Oaks, CA 13,327 214 0.7x

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