What is the cost of living in Sunnyvale, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sunnyvale has an overall cost of living index of 271, which is 2.7x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Sunnyvale has a cost of living index that's 1.9x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Sunnyvale ranks as #595 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Sunnyvale ranks as the #39 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Sunnyvale, check out:
Sunnyvale Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sunnyvale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Sunnyvale is 115.
The Groceries index in Sunnyvale is 115.
The Health index in Sunnyvale is 617.
The Housing index in Sunnyvale is 125.
The Transportation index in Sunnyvale is 120.
The Utilities index in Sunnyvale is 119.
| Living Expense | Sunnyvale | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 271 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 115 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 617 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 125 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Sunnyvale, 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 Sunnyvale is $2,168,909.
The Median Rent in Sunnyvale is $3,039.
The Median Income in Sunnyvale is $186,170.
The Home Value To Income in Sunnyvale is 11.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Sunnyvale is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Sunnyvale | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,168,909 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,039 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $186,170 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.7x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Sunnyvale, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Sunnyvale Services costs vs. California
| Item | Sunnyvale | 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 Sunnyvale Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Sunnyvale | 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 Sunnyvale Health costs vs. California
| Item | Sunnyvale | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Sunnyvale Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Sunnyvale | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Sunnyvale Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Sunnyvale | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Sunnyvale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sunnyvale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sunnyvale. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Santa Clara, CA has a cost of living index of 242, 0.9x Sunnyvale.
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 0.9x Sunnyvale.
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 1.1x Sunnyvale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Sunnyvale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara, CA | 130,256 | 242 | 0.9x |
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 0.9x |
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 1.1x |
| Palo Alto, CA | 67,237 | 341 | 1.3x |
| Cupertino, CA | 58,566 | 329 | 1.2x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.2x |
| Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | 341 | 1.3x |
| Saratoga, CA | 30,319 | 338 | 1.2x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.1x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 1.1x |
