| Index | Cupertino | California | National |
| Cost of living | 329 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 119 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 120 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 809 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 123 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 123 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 115 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 143 | 127 | 100 |
Understanding the cost of living in Cupertino can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Cupertino cost of living index is 329, which is 229% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Cupertino may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Cupertino falls within this bracket.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Cupertino 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 709.2% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Everyday household expenses like cleaning products, laundry detergent, toiletries, and kitchen basics can quickly add up over time and make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Cupertino, you can expect to spend 14.5% more than average on these recurring essentials, which increases your overall monthly cost of living.
Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Cupertino, it's the same story – grocery costs are 19.3% higher than what people pay across the country.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 15 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Cupertino. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 13% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 87% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Cupertino affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Cupertino, for instance, where the median home price falls 907.1% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 247.5% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Cupertino flaunting a median household income of $272,830, 235.4% higher than the national norm.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Cupertino, the healthcare costs are 19.6% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Cupertino, the groceries index is 19.3% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Cupertino shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
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| Utilities index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $305,094 | $25,425 | $7,118 | $9,154 |
| Renters | $241,123 | $20,094 | $5,626 | $7,234 |
| 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. |
| Loma Mar, CA | 294 | 115 | 14.6% |
| Mountain View CDP, CA | 2,675 | 134 | 33.5% |
| Brookdale, CA | 1,345 | 161 | 61.2% |
| Boulder Creek, CA | 5,454 | 166 | 65.9% |
| Lompico, CA | 904 | 178 | 77.7% |
| Cupertino, CA | 61,240 | 329 | 228.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Lancaster, PA | 61,208 | 93 | 7.3% |
| Utica, NY | 61,299 | 96 | 4.2% |
| Gardena, CA | 61,310 | 154 | 53.7% |
| Ocala, FL | 61,352 | 98 | 1.6% |
| Bartlett, TN | 61,391 | 104 | 3.8% |
| Cupertino, CA | 61,240 | 329 | 228.9% |
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