| Index | Mountain View | California | National |
| Cost of living | 285 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 119 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 666 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 126 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 136 | 127 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Mountain View? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Mountain View stands at 285, making it 185% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Mountain View 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, Mountain View 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 Mountain View, 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 565.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
The surge in grocery costs is indeed alarming, especially when groceries make up a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Over the past two years, there has been an inflation of over 10% in grocery prices. Unfortunately, Mountain View does not fare better, with grocery expenses coming in at 15.5% higher than the national average.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 14 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Mountain View. The results indicated that 7% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 93% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is Mountain View 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 Mountain View, for instance, where the median home price falls 738.7% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 162.6% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Mountain View flaunting a median household income of $217,061, 166.9% higher than the national norm.
Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Mountain View, is 565.9% higher than the national average.
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 Mountain View, the groceries index is 15.5% higher than the national average.
Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Mountain View, the transportation index stands at 26.2% higher than the national average.
The Mountain View cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional 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 | $277,164 | $23,097 | $6,467 | $8,316 |
| Renters | $185,812 | $15,484 | $4,335 | $5,575 |
| 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% |
| Alum Rock, CA | 12,233 | 189 | 88.9% |
| Newark, CA | 49,971 | 195 | 95.1% |
| Union City, CA | 76,617 | 201 | 101.1% |
| Mountain View, CA | 82,261 | 285 | 184.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Folsom, CA | 82,389 | 165 | 65.3% |
| Caledon, ON | 82,130 | n/a | |
| Prince George, BC | 82,094 | n/a | |
| Springdale, AR | 82,462 | 90 | 9.8% |
| Lawrence, MA | 82,025 | 125 | 25.4% |
| Mountain View, CA | 82,261 | 285 | 184.5% |
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