What is the cost of living in St. Helena, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. Helena has an overall cost of living index of 251, which is 2.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, St. Helena has a cost of living index that's 1.8x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in St. Helena ranks as #588 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies St. Helena ranks as the #46 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in St. Helena, check out:
St. Helena Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in St. Helena. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in St. Helena is 109.
The Groceries index in St. Helena is 118.
The Health index in St. Helena is 560.
The Housing index in St. Helena is 117.
The Transportation index in St. Helena is 119.
The Utilities index in St. Helena is 122.
| Living Expense | St. Helena | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 251 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 560 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 119 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
St. Helena 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 St. Helena Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
St. Helena, 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 St. Helena is $1,633,317.
The Median Rent in St. Helena is $2,535.
The Median Income in St. Helena is $148,750.
The Home Value To Income in St. Helena is 11.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. Helena is 0.2x.
| Statistic | St. Helena | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,633,317 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,535 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $148,750 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
St. Helena, CA Costs By Category
Detailed St. Helena Services costs vs. California
| Item | St. Helena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.45 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $27.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $25.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed St. Helena Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | St. Helena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.18 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed St. Helena Health costs vs. California
| Item | St. Helena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed St. Helena Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | St. Helena | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed St. Helena Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | St. Helena | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
St. Helena SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around St. Helena
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around St. Helena. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Santa Rosa, CA has a cost of living index of 164, 0.7x St. Helena.
Napa, CA has a cost of living index of 171, 0.7x St. Helena.
Rohnert Park, CA has a cost of living index of 159, 0.6x St. Helena.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. Helena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa, CA | 177,090 | 164 | 0.7x |
| Napa, CA | 78,239 | 171 | 0.7x |
| Rohnert Park, CA | 44,575 | 159 | 0.6x |
| Windsor, CA | 26,081 | 175 | 0.7x |
| Sonoma, CA | 10,670 | 193 | 0.8x |
| Oakville, CT | 9,276 | 113 | 0.5x |
| Larkfield-Wikiup, CA | 8,765 | 171 | 0.7x |
| Cotati, CA | 7,489 | 157 | 0.6x |
| Calistoga, CA | 5,111 | 172 | 0.7x |
