F
248%
Overall NAT. AVG.
20%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
769%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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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 Hillsborough California National
Cost of living348140100
Goods & Services120111100
Groceries123112100
Health care125109100
Housing869196100
Transportation132126100
Utilities136127100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Hillsborough, CA

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Hillsborough is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Hillsborough is 348, which is 248% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Hillsborough is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Hillsborough falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Hillsborough cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 768.7% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In Hillsborough, you can expect to pay 19.9% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

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, Hillsborough is no exception, where grocery prices are 22.5% above the national average.

Is Hillsborough Affordable?

Wondering if Hillsborough is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Hillsborough, for example, the median home price is 982.8% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 268.9% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Hillsborough boasting a median household income of $250,001, which is 351.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Hillsborough?

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Hillsborough, the groceries index is 22.5% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Hillsborough, the transportation index is 31.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough is 149% higher than the California average
  • The cost of living in Hillsborough is 248% higher than the national average
  • Hillsborough housing is 769% 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 Hillsborough

See all the best places to live around Hillsborough

Compare Hillsborough, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      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$250,001$20,833$5,833$7,501
      Renters$181,339$15,112$4,231$5,441
      The affordability of the housing market in Hillsborough, CA as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Hillsborough homeowners, the median income is $250,001. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $5,833 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $181,339. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $4,231 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough National avg. Difference
      Home Price $2,000,001.00$184,700.00982.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $7,224.18$2,346.69207.8%
      Apartment Rent $3,501.00$949.00268.9%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Hillsborough 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.
      Cherryland, CA15,97615858.3%
      Ashland, CA23,56616463.8%
      San Lorenzo, CA30,11717171.4%
      San Leandro, CA90,48917271.8%
      Colma, CA1,492203103.2%
      Hillsborough, CA11,608348247.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Seven Hills, OH11,5971000.4%
      Winton, CA11,6191065.6%
      Jefferson, GA11,6191000.2%
      View Park-Windsor Hills, CA11,62118787.4%
      Cedarburg, WI11,59211616.1%
      Hillsborough, CA11,608348247.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.