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 335, 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 142.
The standard of living in San Marino ranks as #617 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Marino ranks as the #17 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in San Marino, check out:
San Marino Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Marino. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Marino is 107.
The Groceries index in San Marino is 118.
The Health index in San Marino is 860.
The Housing index in San Marino is 112.
The Transportation index in San Marino is 112.
The Utilities index in San Marino is 115.
| Living Expense | San Marino | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 335 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 860 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 121 | 100 |
San Marino 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 Marino Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in San Marino is $2,837,216.
The Median Rent in San Marino is $3,501.
The Median Income in San Marino is $214,167.
The Home Value To Income in San Marino is 13.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Marino is 0.2x.
| Statistic | San Marino | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,837,216 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $214,167 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 13.2x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 198, 0.6x San Marino.
Alhambra, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 0.5x San Marino.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 0.5x San Marino.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Marino |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena, CA | 136,969 | 198 | 0.6x |
| Alhambra, CA | 81,022 | 170 | 0.5x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.5x |
| Arcadia, CA | 55,170 | 223 | 0.7x |
| Rosemead, CA | 50,013 | 162 | 0.5x |
| La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | 167 | 0.5x |
| San Gabriel, CA | 38,392 | 175 | 0.5x |
| La Verne, CA | 30,600 | 164 | 0.5x |
| Walnut, CA | 27,611 | 199 | 0.6x |
| South Pasadena, CA | 26,068 | 229 | 0.7x |
