What is the cost of living in Redwood City, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Redwood City has an overall cost of living index of 267, which is 2.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Redwood City has a cost of living index that's 1.9x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Redwood City ranks as #594 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Redwood City ranks as the #40 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Redwood City, check out:
Redwood City Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Redwood City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Redwood City is 113.
The Groceries index in Redwood City is 122.
The Health index in Redwood City is 619.
The Housing index in Redwood City is 120.
The Transportation index in Redwood City is 122.
The Utilities index in Redwood City is 121.
| Living Expense | Redwood City | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 267 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 122 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 619 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Redwood City 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 Redwood City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Redwood City, 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 Redwood City is $1,897,528.
The Median Rent in Redwood City is $2,968.
The Median Income in Redwood City is $157,814.
The Home Value To Income in Redwood City is 12.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Redwood City is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Redwood City | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,897,528 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,968 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $157,814 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 12.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Redwood City, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Redwood City Services costs vs. California
| Item | Redwood City | 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 Redwood City Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Redwood City | 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 Redwood City Health costs vs. California
| Item | Redwood City | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Redwood City Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Redwood City | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Redwood City Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Redwood City | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
