What is the cost of living in Walnut Creek, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Walnut Creek has an overall cost of living index of 198, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Walnut Creek has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Walnut Creek ranks as #518 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Walnut Creek ranks as the #116 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Walnut Creek, check out:
Walnut Creek Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Walnut Creek. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Walnut Creek is 112.
The Groceries index in Walnut Creek is 113.
The Health index in Walnut Creek is 381.
The Housing index in Walnut Creek is 122.
The Transportation index in Walnut Creek is 122.
The Utilities index in Walnut Creek is 122.
| Living Expense | Walnut Creek | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 198 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 381 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 122 | 121 | 100 |
Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Walnut Creek, 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 Walnut Creek is $1,045,017.
The Median Rent in Walnut Creek is $2,680.
The Median Income in Walnut Creek is $130,432.
The Home Value To Income in Walnut Creek is 8.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Walnut Creek is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Walnut Creek | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,045,017 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,680 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $130,432 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Walnut Creek, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Walnut Creek Services costs vs. California
| Item | Walnut Creek | 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 Walnut Creek Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Walnut Creek | 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 Walnut Creek Health costs vs. California
| Item | Walnut Creek | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $137.4 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $110.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $118.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Walnut Creek Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Walnut Creek | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.97 | $59.92 |
Detailed Walnut Creek Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Walnut Creek | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $182.51 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Walnut Creek SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Walnut Creek
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Walnut Creek. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Ramon, CA has a cost of living index of 221, 1.1x Walnut Creek.
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 1.4x Walnut Creek.
Pleasanton, CA has a cost of living index of 232, 1.2x Walnut Creek.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Walnut Creek |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Ramon, CA | 85,993 | 221 | 1.1x |
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 1.4x |
| Pleasanton, CA | 76,960 | 232 | 1.2x |
| Dublin, CA | 70,803 | 215 | 1.1x |
| Danville, CA | 43,401 | 233 | 1.2x |
| Pleasant Hill, CA | 34,235 | 189 | 1.0x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.9x |
| Lafayette, CA | 25,285 | 281 | 1.4x |
| Alamo, CA | 14,488 | 305 | 1.5x |
| Piedmont, CA | 10,945 | 349 | 1.8x |
