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 338, 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 142.
The standard of living in Saratoga ranks as #624 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Saratoga ranks as the #10 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Saratoga, check out:
Saratoga Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Saratoga. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Saratoga is 110.
The Groceries index in Saratoga is 112.
The Health index in Saratoga is 857.
The Housing index in Saratoga is 111.
The Transportation index in Saratoga is 117.
The Utilities index in Saratoga is 121.
| Living Expense | Saratoga | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 338 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 857 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 111 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 121 | 121 | 100 |
Saratoga 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 Saratoga Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Saratoga is $4,189,622.
The Median Rent in Saratoga is $3,501.
The Median Income in Saratoga is $250,001.
The Home Value To Income in Saratoga is 16.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Saratoga is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Saratoga | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $4,189,622 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $250,001 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 16.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 271, 0.8x Saratoga.
Santa Clara, CA has a cost of living index of 242, 0.7x Saratoga.
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 0.8x Saratoga.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Saratoga |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 154,236 | 271 | 0.8x |
| Santa Clara, CA | 130,256 | 242 | 0.7x |
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 0.8x |
| Milpitas, CA | 78,578 | 218 | 0.6x |
| Cupertino, CA | 58,566 | 329 | 1.0x |
| Campbell, CA | 42,781 | 234 | 0.7x |
| Los Gatos, CA | 32,786 | 306 | 0.9x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.0x |
| Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | 341 | 1.0x |
| North Fair Oaks, CA | 13,100 | 221 | 0.7x |
