Cost of Living in Mountain View, CA

An Overview of Cost of Living in Mountain View, CA

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 283, making it 183% 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 570.2% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, 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 Mountain View is even less favorable, with grocery prices here being 14.5% higher than the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Mountain View?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 14 residents in Mountain View 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? 7% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 93% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Mountain View Affordable?

Is Mountain View 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 Mountain View, the median home price is 744.9% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 162.4% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Mountain View come in at $144,116, which is 160.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Mountain View?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Mountain View, healthcare costs are 22.6% higher than the national average.

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 Mountain View, the housing index is 570.2% 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 Mountain View, the groceries index registers 14.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Mountain View, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.