What is the cost of living in Novato, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Novato has an overall cost of living index of 195, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Novato has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Novato ranks as #509 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Novato ranks as the #125 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Novato, check out:
Novato Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Novato. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Novato is 114.
The Groceries index in Novato is 113.
The Health index in Novato is 372.
The Housing index in Novato is 116.
The Transportation index in Novato is 124.
The Utilities index in Novato is 120.
| Living Expense | Novato | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 195 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 114 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 372 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 121 | 100 |
Novato 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 Novato Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Novato, 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 Novato is $1,078,523.
The Median Rent in Novato is $2,506.
The Median Income in Novato is $115,736.
The Home Value To Income in Novato is 9.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Novato is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Novato | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,078,523 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,506 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $115,736 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Novato, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Novato Services costs vs. California
| Item | Novato | 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 Novato Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Novato | 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 Novato Health costs vs. California
| Item | Novato | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed Novato Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Novato | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Novato Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Novato | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
Novato SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Novato
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Novato. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Napa, CA has a cost of living index of 171, 0.9x Novato.
San Rafael, CA has a cost of living index of 211, 1.1x Novato.
Petaluma, CA has a cost of living index of 178, 0.9x Novato.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Novato |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | 78,239 | 171 | 0.9x |
| San Rafael, CA | 60,433 | 211 | 1.1x |
| Petaluma, CA | 59,247 | 178 | 0.9x |
| Hercules, CA | 26,302 | 170 | 0.9x |
| American Canyon, CA | 21,691 | 162 | 0.8x |
| San Anselmo, CA | 12,679 | 235 | 1.2x |
| Fairfax, CA | 7,516 | 200 | 1.0x |
| Cotati, CA | 7,489 | 157 | 0.8x |
| Kentfield, CA | 6,900 | 333 | 1.7x |
| Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA | 6,473 | 229 | 1.2x |
