What is the cost of living in Oakland, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Oakland has an overall cost of living index of 190, which is 1.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Oakland has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Oakland ranks as #495 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Oakland ranks as the #139 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Oakland, check out:
Oakland Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Oakland. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Oakland is 115.
The Groceries index in Oakland is 121.
The Health index in Oakland is 334.
The Housing index in Oakland is 128.
The Transportation index in Oakland is 124.
The Utilities index in Oakland is 134.
| Living Expense | Oakland | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 190 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 115 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 121 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 334 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 128 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 134 | 121 | 100 |
Oakland 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 Oakland Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Oakland, 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 Oakland is $716,248.
The Median Rent in Oakland is $1,979.
The Median Income in Oakland is $101,600.
The Home Value To Income in Oakland is 7.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Oakland is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Oakland | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $716,248 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,979 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $101,600 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Oakland, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Oakland Services costs vs. California
| Item | Oakland | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.45 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $27.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Oakland Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Oakland | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.18 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Oakland Health costs vs. California
| Item | Oakland | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Oakland Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Oakland | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Oakland Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Oakland | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Oakland SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Oakland
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Oakland. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Berkeley, CA has a cost of living index of 222, 1.2x Oakland.
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 1.3x Oakland.
San Leandro, CA has a cost of living index of 172, 0.9x Oakland.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley, CA | 120,257 | 222 | 1.2x |
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 1.3x |
| San Leandro, CA | 87,826 | 172 | 0.9x |
| San Ramon, CA | 85,993 | 221 | 1.2x |
| Alameda, CA | 77,238 | 207 | 1.1x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 1.1x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.6x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.9x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 1.5x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 1.5x |
