| Index | Los Gatos | California | National |
| Cost of living | 305 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 115 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 752 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 114 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 108 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 126 | 127 | 100 |
Understanding the cost of living in Los Gatos 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 Los Gatos cost of living index is 305, which is 205% 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 prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Los Gatos may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Los Gatos falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Los Gatos, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 651.5% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 8 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Los Gatos. The results indicated that 25% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 75% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is Los Gatos an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Los Gatos, the median home price is 864.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 155% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Los Gatos come in at $229,303, which is 181.9% higher than the national average.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Los Gatos, the transportation index is 15.7% higher than the national average.
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 Los Gatos, the healthcare costs are 14.9% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Los Gatos, the groceries index is 9.8% higher than the national average.
The Los Gatos cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $289,113 | $24,093 | $6,746 | $8,674 |
| Renters | $167,174 | $13,931 | $3,900 | $5,016 |
| 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. |
| 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% |
| Alum Rock, CA | 12,233 | 189 | 88.9% |
| Los Gatos, CA | 32,857 | 305 | 205.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Val-d'Or, QC | 32,869 | n/a | |
| Harker Heights, TX | 32,820 | 102 | 1.6% |
| Marrero, LA | 32,899 | 94 | 5.7% |
| Bay Shore, NY | 32,913 | 134 | 34.4% |
| Wheat Ridge, CO | 32,757 | 135 | 35.4% |
| Los Gatos, CA | 32,857 | 305 | 205.4% |
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