| Index | Santa Clara | California | National |
| Cost of living | 241 | 141 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 111 | 100 |
| Health care | 120 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 519 | 197 | 100 |
| Transportation | 121 | 118 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 119 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 129 | 120 | 100 |
| Household Items | 111 | 111 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 138 | 127 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Santa Clara? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Santa Clara stands at 241, making it 141% 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're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Santa Clara 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, Santa Clara falls within this bracket.
When it comes to the cost of living in Santa Clara, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 419.1% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
The routine items you regularly buy for your home, such as cleaning supplies, personal care products, clothing basics, and kitchen essentials, make up 8% of the cost of living index. In Santa Clara, these items cost 11.3% more than the national average, making day-to-day living a bit more expensive.
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 Santa Clara, it's the same story – grocery costs are 14.8% higher than what people pay across the country.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 20 residents in Santa Clara 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? 30% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 70% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Santa Clara affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Santa Clara, the median home price is 527.1% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 167% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Santa Clara boasting a median household income of $207,964, 155.7% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Santa Clara, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 7.25%, and income tax rates start at 1%.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.
Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Santa Clara, the housing index is 419.1% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Santa Clara 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 | |
| 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 | $243,217 | $20,268 | $5,675 | $7,297 |
| Renters | $169,519 | $14,127 | $3,955 | $5,086 |
| 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% |
| Alum Rock, CA | 12,233 | 189 | 88.9% |
| Newark, CA | 49,971 | 195 | 95.1% |
| East Palo Alto, CA | 30,529 | 213 | 113.4% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,062,558 | 217 | 117.4% |
| Santa Clara, CA | 130,127 | 241 | 140.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Simi Valley, CA | 130,307 | 176 | 76.0% |
| Pearland, TX | 130,314 | 112 | 12.0% |
| Topeka, KS | 129,727 | 87 | 12.7% |
| Abilene, TX | 129,386 | 93 | 7.1% |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 131,108 | 190 | 90.3% |
| Santa Clara, CA | 130,127 | 241 | 140.7% |
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