Cost of living in Santa Clara: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in Santa Clara is 10.4% above the US average. In 2024, the San Jose, CA metro area had a BEA regional price parity (RPP) of 110.4, against 100 for the US, and housing alone measured 211.9.
- Level of prices
- 110.4US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 211.9 for rents, with US = 100.
Cost of living index for Santa Clara
The US average is set at 100. A regional price parity then compares what one basket of goods and services costs in a given place with that average. Under BEA, the metro area called San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, which contains Santa Clara, gets a single price figure. Housing (rents) sits furthest from the US average, at 211.9, or 111.9% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | San Jose, CA metro | California | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 110.4 | 110.7 | +10.4% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 106.1 | +5.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 211.9 | 154.3 | +111.9% |
| Utilities | 156.7 | 158.9 | +56.7% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 102.6 | +0.3% |
Regional price parities for metro areas and states, 2024, come from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) in the United States. BEA regional price parity data
Rent costs in Santa Clara
By the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), Santa Clara's typical asking rent is $3,958 a month, +7.9% on a year earlier; that index covers rent for homes listed now. In the US, that asking rent is $1,932. The Census figure for median gross rent, a measure that includes every renting household rather than only new leases, is $2,900. Paying the asking rent for a year takes 26% of the median household income.
| Rent | Santa Clara | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $3,958 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +7.9% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $2,900 | $1,487 |
| One year of asking rent measured against median income | 26% | 28% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index; one-year estimates from Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024.
Prices of homes in Santa Clara
In September 2026, the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) valued a typical Santa Clara home at $1,642,638, reflecting the market's midpoint. Annual growth was +0.5%; by comparison, the US figure was $366,157. The price equals 9.1 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Santa Clara | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $1,642,638 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +0.5% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +89.3% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 9.1 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 34.6 | 15.8 |
The forecast, days on the market and the price chart since 2000: Santa Clara housing market.
How much pay is needed to meet your expenses in Santa Clara?
Two questions determine the salary needed in Santa Clara to preserve your current purchasing power: your location and your income.
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Santa Clara cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Typical rent figure | Home value, typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara | 110.4 | 211.9 | $3,958 | $1,642,638 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| San Diego | 111.9 | 179.3 | $3,004 | $980,490 |
| San Jose | 110.4 | 211.9 | $3,582 | $1,353,869 |
| San Francisco | 115.6 | 194.7 | $4,784 | $1,441,021 |
| Fresno | 102.2 | 95.7 | $1,945 | $384,885 |
| Sacramento | 106.7 | 130.2 | $2,045 | $470,552 |
| Long Beach | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,412 | $852,391 |
| Oakland | 115.6 | 194.7 | $2,758 | $710,647 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities (2024), with US = 100. Zillow ZORI for rent. Home value comes from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: city cost of living comparison. Each state: cost of living for each state.