What is the cost of living in Rio del Mar, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rio del Mar has an overall cost of living index of 214, which is 2.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Rio del Mar has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Rio del Mar ranks as #551 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Rio del Mar ranks as the #83 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Rio del Mar, check out:
Rio del Mar Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rio del Mar. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rio del Mar is 111.
The Groceries index in Rio del Mar is 115.
The Health index in Rio del Mar is 442.
The Housing index in Rio del Mar is 121.
The Transportation index in Rio del Mar is 115.
The Utilities index in Rio del Mar is 122.
| Living Expense | Rio del Mar | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 214 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 442 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
Rio del Mar 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 Rio del Mar Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Rio del Mar, 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 Rio del Mar is $1,410,736.
The Median Rent in Rio del Mar is $3,407.
The Median Income in Rio del Mar is $159,929.
The Home Value To Income in Rio del Mar is 8.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rio del Mar is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Rio del Mar | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,410,736 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,407 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $159,929 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Rio del Mar, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Rio del Mar Services costs vs. California
| Item | Rio del Mar | 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 Rio del Mar Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Rio del Mar | 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 Rio del Mar Health costs vs. California
| Item | Rio del Mar | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Rio del Mar Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Rio del Mar | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Rio del Mar Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Rio del Mar | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Rio Del Mar SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rio del Mar
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rio del Mar. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Morgan Hill, CA has a cost of living index of 202, 0.9x Rio del Mar.
Los Gatos, CA has a cost of living index of 306, 1.4x Rio del Mar.
Marina, CA has a cost of living index of 158, 0.7x Rio del Mar.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Rio del Mar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Hill, CA | 45,425 | 202 | 0.9x |
| Los Gatos, CA | 32,786 | 306 | 1.4x |
| Marina, CA | 22,563 | 158 | 0.7x |
| Prunedale, CA | 19,723 | 166 | 0.8x |
| Scotts Valley, CA | 12,044 | 196 | 0.9x |
| Soquel, CA | 10,679 | 185 | 0.9x |
| Capitola, CA | 9,689 | 185 | 0.9x |
| Interlaken, CA | 8,068 | 160 | 0.7x |
| San Martin, CA | 6,954 | 214 | 1.0x |
| Castroville, CA | 6,720 | 159 | 0.7x |








