San Marino, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In San Marino, CA Summary

Cost of living in San Marino research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means San Marino is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in San Marino is 344, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in San Marino is 3.4x higher than the national average.

  • San Marino ranks as the #633 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • San Marino ranks as the #6,488 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in San Marino is $2,708,353.

  • The median income in San Marino is $187,633.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
344
San Marino's Overall Cost Of Living
3.4x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in San Marino, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Marino has an overall cost of living index of 344, which is 3.4x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, San Marino has a cost of living index that's 2.4x higher than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in San Marino ranks as #633 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Marino ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in San Marino, check out:

633 out of 634
In California
6,488 out of 6,489
In America

San Marino Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Marino. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in San Marino is 117.

  • The Groceries index in San Marino is 113.

  • The Health index in San Marino is 110.

  • The Housing index in San Marino is 870.

  • The Transportation index in San Marino is 123.

  • The Utilities index in San Marino is 111.

Living Expense San Marino California National Average
Overall 344 141 100
Services 117 110 100
Groceries 113 112 100
Health 110 110 100
Housing 870 195 100
Transportation 123 125 100
Utilities 111 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
San Marino Cost of Living Vs. CA

San Marino, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in San Marino is $2,708,353.

  • The Median Rent in San Marino is $3,501.

  • The Median Income in San Marino is $187,633.

  • The Home Value To Income in San Marino is 14.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in San Marino is 0.22x.

Statistic San Marino California United States
Median Home Value $2,708,353 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $3,501 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $187,633 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 14.4x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.24x 0.21x
$2,708,353
Median Home Value
$3,501
Median Rent
$187,633
Median Income

San Marino, CA Costs By Category

Detailed San Marino Services Costs Vs. California

Item San Marino California
Shampoo $1.41 $1.28
Movie $13.46 $12.13
Bowling $19.07 $18
Haircut $24.67 $24.26
Beauty Salon $49.33 $45.56

Detailed San Marino Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item San Marino California
Ground Beef $6.26 $5.84
Fried Chicken $2.08 $1.57
Milk $4.76 $4.67
Potatoes $4.94 $4.93
Pizza $16.13 $12.09
Beer $9.6 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.76 $3.7

Detailed San Marino Health Costs Vs. California

Item San Marino California
Optometrist $129.09 $125.68
Doctor $119.86 $135.78
Dentist $108.07 $113.29

Detailed San Marino Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item San Marino California
Gasoline $4.47 $3.46
Tire Balancing $58.33 $59.92

Detailed San Marino Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item San Marino California
All Electricity $326.49 $193.99
Phone $182.78 $192.25

San Marino SnackAbility

9.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
9.5/10
Housing
10
Affordability
3
Diversity
8.5
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
9
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Marino

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Marino. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Pasadena, CA has a cost of living index of 189, 0.5x San Marino.

  • Alhambra, CA has a cost of living index of 169, 0.5x San Marino.

  • Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 164, 0.5x San Marino.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. San Marino
Pasadena, CA 136,462 189 0.5x
Alhambra, CA 81,483 169 0.5x
Lakewood, CA 80,510 164 0.5x
Arcadia, CA 55,550 227 0.7x
Rosemead, CA 50,340 158 0.5x
La Mirada, CA 46,945 163 0.5x
San Gabriel, CA 38,764 178 0.5x
La Verne, CA 30,804 159 0.5x
Walnut, CA 27,857 194 0.6x
South Pasadena, CA 26,297 226 0.7x

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