What is the cost of living in San Rafael, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Rafael has an overall cost of living index of 211, which is 2.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, San Rafael has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in San Rafael ranks as #544 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Rafael ranks as the #90 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in San Rafael, check out:
San Rafael Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Rafael. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Rafael is 111.
The Groceries index in San Rafael is 112.
The Health index in San Rafael is 439.
The Housing index in San Rafael is 120.
The Transportation index in San Rafael is 117.
The Utilities index in San Rafael is 114.
| Living Expense | San Rafael | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 211 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 111 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 439 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 121 | 100 |
San Rafael 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 Rafael Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
San Rafael, 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 Rafael is $1,319,431.
The Median Rent in San Rafael is $2,377.
The Median Income in San Rafael is $119,435.
The Home Value To Income in San Rafael is 11.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Rafael is 0.24x.
| Statistic | San Rafael | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,319,431 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,377 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $119,435 | $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 Rafael, CA Costs By Category
Detailed San Rafael Services costs vs. California
| Item | San Rafael | 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 Rafael Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | San Rafael | 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 Rafael Health costs vs. California
| Item | San Rafael | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed San Rafael Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | San Rafael | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed San Rafael Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | San Rafael | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
San Rafael SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Rafael
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Rafael. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Petaluma, CA has a cost of living index of 178, 0.8x San Rafael.
Hercules, CA has a cost of living index of 170, 0.8x San Rafael.
American Canyon, CA has a cost of living index of 162, 0.8x San Rafael.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Rafael |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petaluma, CA | 59,247 | 178 | 0.8x |
| Hercules, CA | 26,302 | 170 | 0.8x |
| American Canyon, CA | 21,691 | 162 | 0.8x |
| Orinda, CA | 19,514 | 274 | 1.3x |
| Mill Valley, CA | 14,012 | 293 | 1.4x |
| Larkspur, CA | 12,854 | 256 | 1.2x |
| San Anselmo, CA | 12,679 | 235 | 1.1x |
| Piedmont, CA | 10,945 | 349 | 1.7x |
| Corte Madera, CA | 10,077 | 253 | 1.2x |
| Fairfax, CA | 7,516 | 200 | 0.9x |
