| Index | San Bruno | California | National |
| Cost of living | 214 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 110 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 112 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 451 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 116 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 108 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 119 | 127 | 100 |
The cost of living in San Bruno affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in San Bruno is 214, which is 114% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, San Bruno 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, San Bruno falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a major factor in the San Bruno cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 350.9% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as 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 San Bruno is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 10.2% higher than the national average.
Is San Bruno an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in San Bruno is 435.3% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 154% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. San Bruno has a median household income of $165,395, which is 103.4% 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 San Bruno, the transportation index is 12.9% 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 San Bruno, the healthcare costs are 12.1% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In San Bruno, the groceries index registers 10.2% higher than the national average.
The San Bruno 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.
| 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 | $190,987 | $15,916 | $4,456 | $5,730 |
| Renters | $144,346 | $12,029 | $3,368 | $4,331 |
| 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. |
| Emeryville, CA | 12,131 | 171 | 71.1% |
| San Leandro, CA | 93,731 | 173 | 73.2% |
| Oakland, CA | 431,366 | 188 | 88.4% |
| Colma, CA | 1,528 | 202 | 102.4% |
| Daly City, CA | 111,327 | 204 | 104.4% |
| San Bruno, CA | 45,907 | 214 | 114.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Oakland Park, FL | 45,907 | 113 | 12.8% |
| Morgan Hill, CA | 45,880 | 200 | 100.5% |
| Whitney, NV | 45,877 | 107 | 7.3% |
| Plainfield, IL | 45,974 | 124 | 24.1% |
| Cleveland Heights, OH | 45,821 | 92 | 8.1% |
| San Bruno, CA | 45,907 | 214 | 114.2% |
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