What is the cost of living in Sausalito, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sausalito has an overall cost of living index of 289, which is 2.9x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Sausalito has a cost of living index that's 2.0x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Sausalito ranks as #605 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Sausalito ranks as the #29 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Sausalito, check out:
Sausalito Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sausalito. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Sausalito is 122.
The Groceries index in Sausalito is 124.
The Health index in Sausalito is 653.
The Housing index in Sausalito is 130.
The Transportation index in Sausalito is 124.
The Utilities index in Sausalito is 138.
| Living Expense | Sausalito | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 289 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 122 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 124 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 653 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 130 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 138 | 121 | 100 |
Sausalito 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 Sausalito Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Sausalito, 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 Sausalito is $1,505,306.
The Median Rent in Sausalito is $3,501.
The Median Income in Sausalito is $182,357.
The Home Value To Income in Sausalito is 8.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Sausalito is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Sausalito | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,505,306 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $182,357 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Sausalito, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Sausalito Services costs vs. California
| Item | Sausalito | 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 Sausalito Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Sausalito | 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 Sausalito Health costs vs. California
| Item | Sausalito | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed Sausalito Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Sausalito | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Sausalito Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Sausalito | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
Sausalito SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sausalito
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sausalito. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
South San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 205, 0.7x Sausalito.
San Bruno, CA has a cost of living index of 214, 0.7x Sausalito.
Pacifica, CA has a cost of living index of 212, 0.7x Sausalito.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Sausalito |
|---|---|---|---|
| South San Francisco, CA | 64,305 | 205 | 0.7x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 0.7x |
| Pacifica, CA | 37,261 | 212 | 0.7x |
| Burlingame, CA | 30,525 | 337 | 1.2x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 1.0x |
| Mill Valley, CA | 14,012 | 293 | 1.0x |
| Larkspur, CA | 12,854 | 256 | 0.9x |
| Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA | 12,085 | 265 | 0.9x |
| Piedmont, CA | 10,945 | 349 | 1.2x |
| Corte Madera, CA | 10,077 | 253 | 0.9x |
