What is the cost of living in San Mateo, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Mateo has an overall cost of living index of 250, which is 2.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, San Mateo has a cost of living index that's 1.8x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in San Mateo ranks as #587 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Mateo ranks as the #47 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in San Mateo, check out:
San Mateo Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Mateo. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Mateo is 116.
The Groceries index in San Mateo is 117.
The Health index in San Mateo is 546.
The Housing index in San Mateo is 121.
The Transportation index in San Mateo is 119.
The Utilities index in San Mateo is 131.
| Living Expense | San Mateo | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 250 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 116 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 546 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 121 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 131 | 121 | 100 |
San Mateo 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 Mateo Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
San Mateo, 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 Mateo is $1,686,905.
The Median Rent in San Mateo is $3,077.
The Median Income in San Mateo is $153,504.
The Home Value To Income in San Mateo is 11.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Mateo is 0.24x.
| Statistic | San Mateo | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,686,905 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,077 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $153,504 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
San Mateo, CA Costs By Category
Detailed San Mateo Services costs vs. California
| Item | San Mateo | 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 Mateo Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | San Mateo | 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 Mateo Health costs vs. California
| Item | San Mateo | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed San Mateo Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | San Mateo | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed San Mateo Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | San Mateo | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
San Mateo SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Mateo
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Mateo. 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, 1.1x San Mateo.
South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 205, 0.8x San Mateo.
San Bruno, CA has a cost of living index of 214, 0.9x San Mateo.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Mateo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 154,236 | 271 | 1.1x |
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 0.8x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 0.9x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.3x |
| Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | 341 | 1.4x |
| Burlingame, CA | 30,525 | 337 | 1.3x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.2x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.7x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 1.1x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 1.2x |
