What is the cost of living in San Carlos, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Carlos has an overall cost of living index of 311, which is 3.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, San Carlos has a cost of living index that's 2.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in San Carlos ranks as #612 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Carlos ranks as the #22 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in San Carlos, check out:
San Carlos Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Carlos. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Carlos is 110.
The Groceries index in San Carlos is 112.
The Health index in San Carlos is 769.
The Housing index in San Carlos is 115.
The Transportation index in San Carlos is 113.
The Utilities index in San Carlos is 121.
| Living Expense | San Carlos | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 311 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 769 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
San Carlos 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 Carlos Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
San Carlos, 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 Carlos is $2,459,877.
The Median Rent in San Carlos is $2,854.
The Median Income in San Carlos is $237,470.
The Home Value To Income in San Carlos is 10.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Carlos is 0.14x.
| Statistic | San Carlos | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,459,877 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,854 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $237,470 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.4x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
San Carlos, CA Costs By Category
Detailed San Carlos Services costs vs. California
| Item | San Carlos | 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 Carlos Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | San Carlos | 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 Carlos Health costs vs. California
| Item | San Carlos | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed San Carlos Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | San Carlos | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed San Carlos Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | San Carlos | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
San Carlos SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Carlos
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Carlos. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sunnyvale, CA has a cost of living index of 271, 0.9x San Carlos.
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 0.8x San Carlos.
Cupertino, CA has a cost of living index of 329, 1.1x San Carlos.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Carlos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 154,236 | 271 | 0.9x |
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 0.8x |
| Cupertino, CA | 58,566 | 329 | 1.1x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 0.7x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.1x |
| Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | 341 | 1.1x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.5x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 0.9x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 0.9x |
| North Fair Oaks, CA | 13,100 | 221 | 0.7x |
