What is the cost of living in Richmond, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Richmond has an overall cost of living index of 153, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Richmond has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Richmond ranks as #323 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Richmond ranks as the #311 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Richmond, check out:
Richmond Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Richmond. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Richmond is 113.
The Groceries index in Richmond is 120.
The Health index in Richmond is 242.
The Housing index in Richmond is 118.
The Transportation index in Richmond is 122.
The Utilities index in Richmond is 122.
| Living Expense | Richmond | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 153 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 242 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
Richmond 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 Richmond Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Richmond, 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 Richmond is $606,426.
The Median Rent in Richmond is $1,960.
The Median Income in Richmond is $95,391.
The Home Value To Income in Richmond is 6.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Richmond is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Richmond | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $606,426 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,960 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $95,391 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Richmond, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Richmond Services costs vs. California
| Item | Richmond | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.45 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $27.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Richmond Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Richmond | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.18 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Richmond Health costs vs. California
| Item | Richmond | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Richmond Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Richmond | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Richmond Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Richmond | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Richmond SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Richmond
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Richmond. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 1.9x Richmond.
San Pablo, CA has a cost of living index of 141, 0.9x Richmond.
Hercules, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 1.1x Richmond.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 1.9x |
| San Pablo, CA | 31,720 | 141 | 0.9x |
| Hercules, CA | 26,302 | 170 | 1.1x |
| El Cerrito, CA | 25,994 | 203 | 1.3x |
| Lafayette, CA | 25,285 | 281 | 1.8x |
| American Canyon, CA | 21,691 | 162 | 1.1x |
| Orinda, CA | 19,514 | 274 | 1.8x |
| Pinole, CA | 18,761 | 162 | 1.1x |
| Piedmont, CA | 10,945 | 349 | 2.3x |
| Fairfax, CA | 7,516 | 200 | 1.3x |
