What is the cost of living in Woodside, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Woodside has an overall cost of living index of 345, which is 3.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Woodside has a cost of living index that's 2.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Woodside ranks as #631 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Woodside ranks as the #3 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Woodside, check out:
Woodside Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Woodside. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Woodside is 113.
The Groceries index in Woodside is 121.
The Health index in Woodside is 872.
The Housing index in Woodside is 120.
The Transportation index in Woodside is 121.
The Utilities index in Woodside is 120.
| Living Expense | Woodside | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 345 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 121 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 872 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 121 | 100 |
Woodside 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 Woodside Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Woodside, 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 Woodside is $3,891,384.
The Median Rent in Woodside is $3,501.
The Median Income in Woodside is $250,001.
The Home Value To Income in Woodside is 15.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Woodside is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Woodside | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $3,891,384 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $250,001 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 15.6x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Woodside, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Woodside Services costs vs. California
| Item | Woodside | 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 Woodside Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Woodside | 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 Woodside Health costs vs. California
| Item | Woodside | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Woodside Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Woodside | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed Woodside Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Woodside | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
Woodside SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Woodside
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Woodside. 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 Woodside.
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 0.7x Woodside.
Palo Alto, CA has a cost of living index of 341, 1.0x Woodside.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Woodside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 154,236 | 271 | 0.8x |
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 0.7x |
| Palo Alto, CA | 67,237 | 341 | 1.0x |
| Cupertino, CA | 58,566 | 329 | 1.0x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 0.6x |
| Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | 341 | 1.0x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 0.9x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.5x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 0.8x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 0.8x |
