| Index | Burlingame | California | National |
| Cost of living | 336 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 112 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 855 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 123 | 127 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Burlingame is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Burlingame is 336, which is 236% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Burlingame is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Burlingame falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Burlingame cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 755.1% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
The substantial and relentless rise in grocery prices definitely warrants some attention. Over the past two years, grocery expenses have escalated by more than 10%. Having said that, the situation in Burlingame is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 11.1% higher than the national average.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 7 residents in Burlingame to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 14% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 86% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Wondering if Burlingame is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Burlingame, for example, the median home price is 1017.7% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 142.2% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Burlingame boasting a median household income of $208,230, which is 156% higher than the national average.
Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Burlingame, the housing index is 755.1% higher than the national average.
Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Burlingame, the transportation index is 16.2% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
The Burlingame cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $270,322 | $22,527 | $6,307 | $8,110 |
| Renters | $157,203 | $13,100 | $3,668 | $4,717 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| California | 1% | 13.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Cherryland, CA | 16,430 | 160 | 60.4% |
| Ashland, CA | 24,254 | 162 | 62.0% |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 31,094 | 169 | 69.4% |
| San Leandro, CA | 93,731 | 173 | 73.2% |
| Oakland, CA | 431,366 | 188 | 88.4% |
| Burlingame, CA | 30,894 | 336 | 236.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Centre Wellington, ON | 30,896 | n/a | |
| Kahului, HI | 30,867 | 171 | 70.6% |
| North Chicago, IL | 30,865 | 95 | 5.0% |
| East Lake-Orient Park, FL | 30,859 | 100 | 0.2% |
| Cornelius, NC | 30,849 | 122 | 22.2% |
| Burlingame, CA | 30,894 | 336 | 236.4% |
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