F
117%
Overall NAT. AVG.
20%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
334%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index San Rafael California National
Cost of living217140100
Goods & Services120111100
Groceries123112100
Health care125109100
Housing434196100
Transportation132126100
Utilities136127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in San Rafael, CA

Knowing the cost of living in San Rafael allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in San Rafael stands at 217, marking it 117% higher than the national average.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, San Rafael may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, San Rafael falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

Housing costs significantly influence the San Rafael cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 334.1%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, San Rafael goods and services are 19.9% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

The relentless increase in grocery prices is a noteworthy trend. In the last two years, grocery costs have experienced an upward trajectory of over 10%. Unfortunately, San Rafael is no exception, where grocery prices are 22.5% above the national average.

Is San Rafael Affordable?

Is San Rafael 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 Rafael is 428.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 114.6% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. San Rafael has a median household income of $97,009, which is 75.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in San Rafael?

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in San Rafael starts at 7.25% and the income tax rates start at 1%.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In San Rafael, the transportation index is 31.5% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In San Rafael, healthcare costs are 24.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The San Rafael cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in San Rafael is 56% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in San Rafael is 117% higher than the national average
  • San Rafael housing is 334% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around San Rafael

30 km
20 mi
San Rafael Your current location Population: 59,178 F Rollingwood City: 9.7mi / 15.6km away Population: 3,612 F San Pablo City: 9.0mi / 14.5km away Population: 30,959 F Montalvin Manor City: 9.7mi / 15.6km away Population: 2,490 F North Richmond City: 7.5mi / 12.1km away Population: 4,258 F Strawberry CDP (Tuolumne County) City: 6.2mi / 10.0km away Population: 116 F Richmond City: 8.2mi / 13.2km away Population: 110,051 F Black Point-Green Point City: 8.9mi / 14.4km away Population: 1,738 F Alto City: 5.3mi / 8.4km away Population: 818 F Belvedere City: 7.6mi / 12.3km away Population: 2,246 F Corte Madera City: 3.4mi / 5.5km away Population: 9,793 F Kentfield City: 4.2mi / 6.8km away Population: 7,423 F Larkspur City: 3.1mi / 4.9km away Population: 12,363 F Marin City City: 7.6mi / 12.2km away Population: 3,040 F Mill Valley City: 5.4mi / 8.7km away Population: 14,456 F Muir Beach City: 9.2mi / 14.8km away Population: 360 F Sausalito City: 8.5mi / 13.7km away Population: 7,177 F Stinson Beach City: 8.8mi / 14.2km away Population: 583 F Strawberry City: 6.2mi / 10.0km away Population: 5,325 F Tamalpais-Homestead Valley City: 7.2mi / 11.7km away Population: 12,331 F Tiburon City: 7.0mi / 11.3km away Population: 9,167 F Fairfax City: 4.8mi / 7.8km away Population: 7,629 F Lucas Valley-Marinwood City: 5.6mi / 9.0km away Population: 6,738 F Novato City: 7.5mi / 12.1km away Population: 53,781 F Ross City: 3.2mi / 5.2km away Population: 2,453 F San Anselmo City: 3.4mi / 5.5km away Population: 12,623 F
See all the best places to live around San Rafael

Compare San Rafael, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

          This is how much you would need to earn in
          Price difference in compared to
          Cost of living index
          Goods & Services index
          Groceries index
          Health care index
          Housing index
          Transportation index
          Utilities index

          Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

          Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
          Owners$148,080$12,340$3,455$4,443
          Renters$63,623$5,302$1,484$1,909
          A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in San Rafael is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. San Rafael has a median income of about $148,080 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $3,455 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $63,623. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,484 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

          California Sales Tax

          State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
          California 7.25% 10.5%

          California Income Tax

          State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
          California 1% 13.3%

          Goods & Services

          Item San Rafael National avg. Difference
          Haircut $28.38$24.2617.0%
          Beauty Salon $85.43$45.5687.5%
          Toothpaste $4.09$3.7010.4%
          Shampoo $1.65$1.2829.1%
          Movie $16.02$12.1332.0%
          Bowling $24.01$18.0033.4%

          Groceries

          Item San Rafael National avg. Difference
          Ground Beef $6.23$5.846.7%
          Fried Chicken $2.11$1.5734.1%
          Milk $5.18$4.6710.9%
          Potatoes $4.98$4.930.9%
          Pizza $15.74$12.0930.2%
          Beer $11.21$10.417.6%

          Health Care

          Item San Rafael National avg. Difference
          Optometrist $159.79$125.6827.1%
          Doctor $174.45$135.7828.5%
          Dentist $155.36$113.2937.1%
          Ibuprofen $11.30$10.656.1%
          Lipitor $498.84$468.606.5%

          Housing

          Item San Rafael National avg. Difference
          Home Price $975,500.00$184,700.00428.2%
          Avg. Mortgage Payment $7,224.18$2,346.69207.8%
          Apartment Rent $2,037.00$949.00114.6%

          Transportation

          Item San Rafael National avg. Difference
          Gasoline $4.63$3.4633.9%
          Tire Balancing $75.33$59.9225.7%

          Utilities

          Item San Rafael National avg. Difference
          All Electricity $298.77$193.9954.0%
          Phone $203.63$192.255.9%
          Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

          Nearby cities with low cost of living

          City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
          Strawberry CDP (Tuolumne County), CA11612524.6%
          El Cerrito CDP, CA5,69914039.6%
          San Pablo, CA30,95914242.0%
          North Richmond, CA4,25814444.2%
          Vallejo, CA121,27514545.4%
          San Rafael, CA59,178217117.4%

          Cities with similar population

          City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
          Fountainebleau, FL59,17411212.2%
          St. Clair Shores, MI59,184964.2%
          Brookline, MA59,223220119.7%
          Bartlett, TN59,2521010.6%
          Royal Oak, MI59,2561088.0%
          San Rafael, CA59,178217117.4%
          Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.