Saratoga, CA Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Saratoga, CA Summary

Cost of living in Saratoga 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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga is 342, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Saratoga ranks as the #631 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Saratoga ranks as the #6,486 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Saratoga is $3,880,499.

  • The median income in Saratoga is $241,348.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
342
Saratoga's Overall Cost Of Living
3.4x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Saratoga, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Saratoga has an overall cost of living index of 342, which is 3.4x higher than the national index of 100.

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

The standard of living in Saratoga ranks as #631 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Saratoga ranks as the #3 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Saratoga, check out:

631 out of 634
In California
6,486 out of 6,489
In America

Saratoga Cost Of Living Vs. California

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

  • The Services index in Saratoga is 108.

  • The Groceries index in Saratoga is 116.

  • The Health index in Saratoga is 122.

  • The Housing index in Saratoga is 866.

  • The Transportation index in Saratoga is 129.

  • The Utilities index in Saratoga is 130.

Living Expense Saratoga California National Average
Overall 342 141 100
Services 108 110 100
Groceries 116 112 100
Health 122 110 100
Housing 866 195 100
Transportation 129 125 100
Utilities 130 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Saratoga Cost of Living Vs. CA

Saratoga, 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 Saratoga is $3,880,499.

  • The Median Rent in Saratoga is $3,501.

  • The Median Income in Saratoga is $241,348.

  • The Home Value To Income in Saratoga is 16.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Saratoga is 0.17x.

Statistic Saratoga California United States
Median Home Value $3,880,499 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $3,501 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $241,348 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 16.1x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.24x 0.21x
$3,880,499
Median Home Value
$3,501
Median Rent
$241,348
Median Income

Saratoga, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Saratoga Services Costs Vs. California

Item Saratoga California
Shampoo $1.66 $1.28
Movie $13.31 $12.13
Bowling $33.3 $18
Haircut $33.94 $24.26
Beauty Salon $48.51 $45.56

Detailed Saratoga Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Saratoga California
Ground Beef $5.79 $5.84
Fried Chicken $2.13 $1.57
Milk $5.05 $4.67
Potatoes $4.77 $4.93
Pizza $14.92 $12.09
Beer $10.99 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.72 $3.7

Detailed Saratoga Health Costs Vs. California

Item Saratoga California
Optometrist $158.95 $125.68
Doctor $194.05 $135.78
Dentist $147.78 $113.29

Detailed Saratoga Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Saratoga California
Gasoline $4.81 $3.46
Tire Balancing $65.62 $59.92

Detailed Saratoga Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Saratoga California
All Electricity $294.74 $193.99
Phone $190.07 $192.25

Saratoga SnackAbility

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

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Saratoga

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Saratoga. 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 266, 0.8x Saratoga.

  • Santa Clara, CA has a cost of living index of 234, 0.7x Saratoga.

  • Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 283, 0.8x Saratoga.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Saratoga
Sunnyvale, CA 153,455 266 0.8x
Santa Clara, CA 129,239 234 0.7x
Mountain View, CA 82,363 283 0.8x
Milpitas, CA 78,216 213 0.6x
Cupertino, CA 58,886 326 1.0x
Campbell, CA 42,848 235 0.7x
Menlo Park, CA 32,775 334 1.0x
Los Gatos, CA 32,773 308 0.9x
Los Altos, CA 30,736 339 1.0x
North Fair Oaks, CA 13,327 214 0.6x

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