Pacifica, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Pacifica, CA Summary

Cost of living in Pacifica research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Pacifica is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Pacifica is 220, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Pacifica is 2.2x higher than the national average.

  • Pacifica ranks as the #560 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Pacifica ranks as the #6,384 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Pacifica is $1,230,140.

  • The median income in Pacifica is $156,819.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
220
Pacifica's Overall Cost Of Living
2.2x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Pacifica, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pacifica has an overall cost of living index of 220, which is 2.2x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Pacifica has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in Pacifica ranks as #560 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Pacifica ranks as the #74 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Pacifica, check out:

560 out of 634
In California
6,384 out of 6,489
In America

Pacifica Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pacifica. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Pacifica is 120.

  • The Groceries index in Pacifica is 124.

  • The Health index in Pacifica is 127.

  • The Housing index in Pacifica is 439.

  • The Transportation index in Pacifica is 134.

  • The Utilities index in Pacifica is 135.

Living Expense Pacifica California National Average
Overall 220 141 100
Services 120 110 100
Groceries 124 112 100
Health 127 110 100
Housing 439 195 100
Transportation 134 125 100
Utilities 135 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Pacifica Cost of Living Vs. CA

Pacifica, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Pacifica is $1,230,140.

  • The Median Rent in Pacifica is $3,080.

  • The Median Income in Pacifica is $156,819.

  • The Home Value To Income in Pacifica is 7.8x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Pacifica is 0.24x.

Statistic Pacifica California United States
Median Home Value $1,230,140 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $3,080 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $156,819 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 7.8x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.24x 0.24x 0.21x
$1,230,140
Median Home Value
$3,080
Median Rent
$156,819
Median Income

Pacifica, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Pacifica Services Costs Vs. California

Item Pacifica 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 Pacifica Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Pacifica 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 Pacifica Health Costs Vs. California

Item Pacifica California
Optometrist $159.79 $125.68
Doctor $174.45 $135.78
Dentist $155.36 $113.29

Detailed Pacifica Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Pacifica California
Gasoline $4.63 $3.46
Tire Balancing $75.33 $59.92

Detailed Pacifica Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Pacifica California
All Electricity $298.77 $193.99
Phone $203.63 $192.25

Pacifica SnackAbility

9.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
9/10
Housing
10
Affordability
4
Diversity
9.5
Safety
6
Amenities
9
Education
9
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Pacifica

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Pacifica. 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 248, 1.1x Pacifica.

  • South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 213, 1.0x Pacifica.

  • San Bruno, CA has a cost of living index of 220, 1.0x Pacifica.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Pacifica
San Mateo, CA 103,555 248 1.1x
South San Francisco, CA 64,487 213 1.0x
San Bruno, CA 42,612 220 1.0x
Burlingame, CA 30,526 336 1.5x
San Carlos, CA 29,797 311 1.4x
San Lorenzo, CA 29,453 170 0.8x
Belmont, CA 27,505 294 1.3x
Millbrae, CA 22,589 289 1.3x
North Fair Oaks, CA 13,327 214 1.0x
Half Moon Bay, CA 11,454 239 1.1x

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