What is the cost of living in Petaluma, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Petaluma has an overall cost of living index of 178, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Petaluma has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Petaluma ranks as #463 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Petaluma ranks as the #171 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Petaluma, check out:
Petaluma Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Petaluma. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Petaluma is 111.
The Groceries index in Petaluma is 116.
The Health index in Petaluma is 320.
The Housing index in Petaluma is 119.
The Transportation index in Petaluma is 122.
The Utilities index in Petaluma is 115.
| Living Expense | Petaluma | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 178 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 320 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 121 | 100 |
Petaluma 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 Petaluma Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Petaluma, 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 Petaluma is $901,207.
The Median Rent in Petaluma is $2,440.
The Median Income in Petaluma is $115,430.
The Home Value To Income in Petaluma is 7.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Petaluma is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Petaluma | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $901,207 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,440 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $115,430 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Petaluma, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Petaluma Services costs vs. California
| Item | Petaluma | 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 Petaluma Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Petaluma | 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 Petaluma Health costs vs. California
| Item | Petaluma | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed Petaluma Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Petaluma | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Petaluma Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Petaluma | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
Petaluma SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Petaluma
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Petaluma. 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, 1.0x Petaluma.
San Rafael, CA has a cost of living index of 211, 1.2x Petaluma.
Novato, CA has a cost of living index of 195, 1.1x Petaluma.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Petaluma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | 78,239 | 171 | 1.0x |
| San Rafael, CA | 60,433 | 211 | 1.2x |
| Novato, CA | 52,546 | 195 | 1.1x |
| Rohnert Park, CA | 44,575 | 159 | 0.9x |
| San Anselmo, CA | 12,679 | 235 | 1.3x |
| Sonoma, CA | 10,670 | 193 | 1.1x |
| Larkfield-Wikiup, CA | 8,765 | 171 | 1.0x |
| Fairfax, CA | 7,516 | 200 | 1.1x |
| Cotati, CA | 7,489 | 157 | 0.9x |
| Sebastopol, CA | 7,445 | 172 | 1.0x |
