What is the cost of living in Pleasanton, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pleasanton has an overall cost of living index of 232, which is 2.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Pleasanton has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Pleasanton ranks as #573 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Pleasanton ranks as the #61 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Pleasanton, check out:
Pleasanton Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pleasanton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pleasanton is 111.
The Groceries index in Pleasanton is 118.
The Health index in Pleasanton is 490.
The Housing index in Pleasanton is 122.
The Transportation index in Pleasanton is 122.
The Utilities index in Pleasanton is 124.
| Living Expense | Pleasanton | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 232 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 490 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 121 | 100 |
Pleasanton 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 Pleasanton Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Pleasanton, 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 Pleasanton is $1,601,646.
The Median Rent in Pleasanton is $3,060.
The Median Income in Pleasanton is $190,124.
The Home Value To Income in Pleasanton is 8.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pleasanton is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Pleasanton | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,601,646 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,060 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $190,124 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Pleasanton, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Pleasanton Services costs vs. California
| Item | Pleasanton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.66 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $33.3 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.51 | $45.56 |
Detailed Pleasanton Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Pleasanton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.79 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.13 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.05 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.77 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.92 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Pleasanton Health costs vs. California
| Item | Pleasanton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Pleasanton Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Pleasanton | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Pleasanton Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Pleasanton | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Pleasanton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Pleasanton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Pleasanton. 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, 1.0x Pleasanton.
Livermore, CA has a cost of living index of 199, 0.9x Pleasanton.
Milpitas, CA has a cost of living index of 218, 0.9x Pleasanton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pleasanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Ramon, CA | 85,993 | 221 | 1.0x |
| Livermore, CA | 85,522 | 199 | 0.9x |
| Milpitas, CA | 78,578 | 218 | 0.9x |
| Dublin, CA | 70,803 | 215 | 0.9x |
| Castro Valley, CA | 65,001 | 195 | 0.8x |
| Danville, CA | 43,401 | 233 | 1.0x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.5x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.7x |
| Fairview, CA | 10,745 | 187 | 0.8x |
| Blackhawk, CA | 10,137 | 275 | 1.2x |
