What is the cost of living in San Bruno, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Bruno has an overall cost of living index of 214, which is 2.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, San Bruno has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in San Bruno ranks as #551 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Bruno ranks as the #83 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in San Bruno, check out:
San Bruno Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Bruno. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Bruno is 110.
The Groceries index in San Bruno is 112.
The Health index in San Bruno is 451.
The Housing index in San Bruno is 114.
The Transportation index in San Bruno is 116.
The Utilities index in San Bruno is 116.
| Living Expense | San Bruno | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 214 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 451 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 121 | 100 |
San Bruno 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 San Bruno Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
San Bruno, 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 San Bruno is $1,327,402.
The Median Rent in San Bruno is $2,773.
The Median Income in San Bruno is $141,272.
The Home Value To Income in San Bruno is 9.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Bruno is 0.24x.
| Statistic | San Bruno | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,327,402 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,773 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $141,272 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
San Bruno, CA Costs By Category
Detailed San Bruno Services costs vs. California
| Item | San Bruno | 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 San Bruno Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | San Bruno | 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 San Bruno Health costs vs. California
| Item | San Bruno | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed San Bruno Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | San Bruno | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed San Bruno Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | San Bruno | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
San Bruno SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Bruno
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Bruno. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 1.2x San Bruno.
South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.0x San Bruno.
Pacifica, CA has a cost of living index of 212, 1.0x San Bruno.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Bruno |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 1.2x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 1.0x |
| Pacifica, CA | 37,261 | 212 | 1.0x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.6x |
| Burlingame, CA | 30,525 | 337 | 1.6x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.5x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.8x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 1.3x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 1.3x |
| North Fair Oaks, CA | 13,100 | 221 | 1.0x |
