What is the cost of living in Mountain View, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mountain View has an overall cost of living index of 287, which is 2.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Mountain View has a cost of living index that's 2.0x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Mountain View ranks as #603 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Mountain View ranks as the #31 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Mountain View, check out:
Mountain View Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mountain View. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mountain View is 114.
The Groceries index in Mountain View is 120.
The Health index in Mountain View is 668.
The Housing index in Mountain View is 125.
The Transportation index in Mountain View is 124.
The Utilities index in Mountain View is 123.
| Living Expense | Mountain View | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 287 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 668 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 125 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 123 | 121 | 100 |
Mountain View 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 Mountain View Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mountain View, 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 Mountain View is $2,037,086.
The Median Rent in Mountain View is $3,062.
The Median Income in Mountain View is $189,917.
The Home Value To Income in Mountain View is 10.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mountain View is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Mountain View | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,037,086 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,062 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $189,917 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Mountain View, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Mountain View Services costs vs. California
| Item | Mountain View | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.66 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $33.3 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.51 | $45.56 |
Detailed Mountain View Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Mountain View | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.79 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.13 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.05 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.77 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.92 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Mountain View Health costs vs. California
| Item | Mountain View | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mountain View Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Mountain View | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mountain View Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Mountain View | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Mountain View SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mountain View
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mountain View. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Ramon, CA has a cost of living index of 221, 0.8x Mountain View.
Danville, CA has a cost of living index of 233, 0.8x Mountain View.
Martinez, CA has a cost of living index of 172, 0.6x Mountain View.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mountain View |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Ramon, CA | 85,993 | 221 | 0.8x |
| Danville, CA | 43,401 | 233 | 0.8x |
| Martinez, CA | 36,903 | 172 | 0.6x |
| Pleasant Hill, CA | 34,235 | 189 | 0.7x |
| Benicia, CA | 26,749 | 169 | 0.6x |
| Hercules, CA | 26,302 | 170 | 0.6x |
| Lafayette, CA | 25,285 | 281 | 1.0x |
| American Canyon, CA | 21,691 | 162 | 0.6x |
| Orinda, CA | 19,514 | 274 | 1.0x |
| Piedmont, CA | 10,945 | 349 | 1.2x |
