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 212, which is 2.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Pacifica has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Pacifica ranks as #546 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Pacifica ranks as the #88 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Pacifica, check out:
Pacifica Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pacifica. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pacifica is 111.
The Groceries index in Pacifica is 114.
The Health index in Pacifica is 436.
The Housing index in Pacifica is 114.
The Transportation index in Pacifica is 116.
The Utilities index in Pacifica is 115.
| Living Expense | Pacifica | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 212 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 436 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 121 | 100 |
Pacifica 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 Pacifica Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Pacifica is $1,284,847.
The Median Rent in Pacifica is $3,098.
The Median Income in Pacifica is $160,523.
The Home Value To Income in Pacifica is 8.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pacifica is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Pacifica | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,284,847 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,098 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $160,523 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 250, 1.2x Pacifica.
South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.0x Pacifica.
San Bruno, CA has a cost of living index of 214, 1.0x Pacifica.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pacifica |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 1.2x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 1.0x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 1.0x |
| Burlingame, CA | 30,525 | 337 | 1.6x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.5x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.8x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 1.3x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 1.4x |
| North Fair Oaks, CA | 13,100 | 221 | 1.0x |
| Half Moon Bay, CA | 11,391 | 227 | 1.1x |
