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 288, 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 142.
The standard of living in Millbrae ranks as #604 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Millbrae ranks as the #30 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Millbrae, check out:
Millbrae Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Millbrae. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Millbrae is 109.
The Groceries index in Millbrae is 114.
The Health index in Millbrae is 688.
The Housing index in Millbrae is 118.
The Transportation index in Millbrae is 116.
The Utilities index in Millbrae is 117.
| Living Expense | Millbrae | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 288 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 688 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
Millbrae 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 Millbrae Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Millbrae is $2,082,464.
The Median Rent in Millbrae is $3,272.
The Median Income in Millbrae is $163,476.
The Home Value To Income in Millbrae is 12.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Millbrae is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Millbrae | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,082,464 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,272 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $163,476 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 12.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 250, 0.9x Millbrae.
South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 205, 0.7x Millbrae.
San Bruno, CA has a cost of living index of 214, 0.7x Millbrae.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Millbrae |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 0.9x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 0.7x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 0.7x |
| Pacifica, CA | 37,261 | 212 | 0.7x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.2x |
| Burlingame, CA | 30,525 | 337 | 1.2x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.1x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.6x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 1.0x |
| North Fair Oaks, CA | 13,100 | 221 | 0.8x |
