What is the cost of living in Stanford, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Stanford has an overall cost of living index of 341, which is 3.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Stanford has a cost of living index that's 2.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Stanford ranks as #628 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Stanford ranks as the #6 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Stanford, check out:
Stanford Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Stanford. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Stanford is 117.
The Groceries index in Stanford is 118.
The Health index in Stanford is 842.
The Housing index in Stanford is 122.
The Transportation index in Stanford is 130.
The Utilities index in Stanford is 131.
| Living Expense | Stanford | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 341 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 117 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 842 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 130 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 131 | 121 | 100 |
Stanford 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 Stanford Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Stanford, 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 Stanford is $3,363,126.
The Median Rent in Stanford is $1,976.
The Median Income in Stanford is $75,208.
The Home Value To Income in Stanford is 44.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Stanford is 0.32x.
| Statistic | Stanford | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $3,363,126 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,976 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $75,208 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 44.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.32x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Stanford, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Stanford Services costs vs. California
| Item | Stanford | 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 Stanford Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Stanford | 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 Stanford Health costs vs. California
| Item | Stanford | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Stanford Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Stanford | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Stanford Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Stanford | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Stanford SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Stanford
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Stanford. 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 Stanford.
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 0.7x Stanford.
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 0.8x Stanford.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Stanford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 154,236 | 271 | 0.8x |
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 0.7x |
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 0.8x |
| Palo Alto, CA | 67,237 | 341 | 1.0x |
| Cupertino, CA | 58,566 | 329 | 1.0x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 0.6x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.0x |
| Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | 341 | 1.0x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 0.9x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.5x |
