What is the cost of living in Orinda, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Orinda has an overall cost of living index of 274, which is 2.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Orinda has a cost of living index that's 1.9x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Orinda ranks as #597 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Orinda ranks as the #37 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Orinda, check out:
Orinda Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Orinda. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Orinda is 108.
The Groceries index in Orinda is 114.
The Health index in Orinda is 652.
The Housing index in Orinda is 118.
The Transportation index in Orinda is 114.
The Utilities index in Orinda is 116.
| Living Expense | Orinda | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 274 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 652 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 121 | 100 |
Orinda 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 Orinda Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Orinda, 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 Orinda is $1,985,116.
The Median Rent in Orinda is $3,501.
The Median Income in Orinda is $250,001.
The Home Value To Income in Orinda is 7.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Orinda is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Orinda | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,985,116 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $250,001 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Orinda, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Orinda Services costs vs. California
| Item | Orinda | 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 Orinda Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Orinda | 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 Orinda Health costs vs. California
| Item | Orinda | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Orinda Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Orinda | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Orinda Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Orinda | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Orinda SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Orinda
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Orinda. 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 Orinda.
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 1.0x Orinda.
Dublin, CA has a cost of living index of 215, 0.8x Orinda.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Orinda |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Ramon, CA | 85,993 | 221 | 0.8x |
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 1.0x |
| Dublin, CA | 70,803 | 215 | 0.8x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 0.7x |
| Danville, CA | 43,401 | 233 | 0.9x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.6x |
| Lafayette, CA | 25,285 | 281 | 1.0x |
| Moraga, CA | 16,769 | 242 | 0.9x |
| Piedmont, CA | 10,945 | 349 | 1.3x |
| Fairview, CA | 10,745 | 187 | 0.7x |
