Novato, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Novato, CA Summary

Cost of living in Novato research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Novato is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Novato is 182, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Novato is 1.8x higher than the national average.

  • Novato ranks as the #539 cheapest in California out of 635.

  • Novato ranks as the #6,225 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Novato is $839,700.

  • The median income in Novato is $107,975.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
182
Novato's Overall Cost Of Living
1.8x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Novato, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Novato has an overall cost of living index of 182, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Novato has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 139.

The standard of living in Novato ranks as #539 most affordable out of the 635 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Novato ranks as the #96 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Novato, check out:

539 out of 635
In California
6,225 out of 6,412
In America

Novato Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Novato. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Novato is 125.

  • The Groceries index in Novato is 130.

  • The Health index in Novato is 125.

  • The Housing index in Novato is 294.

  • The Transportation index in Novato is 150.

  • The Utilities index in Novato is 139.

Living Expense Novato California National Average
Overall 182 139 100
Services 125 110 100
Groceries 130 112 100
Health 125 109 100
Housing 294 204 100
Transportation 150 126 100
Utilities 139 124 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Novato Cost of Living Vs. CA

Novato, CA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Novato is $839,700.

  • The Median Rent in Novato is $2,102.

  • The Median Income in Novato is $107,975.

  • The Home Value To Income in Novato is 7.8x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Novato is 0.23x.

Statistic Novato California United States
Median Home Value $839,700 $573,200 $244,900
Median Rent $2,102 $1,698 $1,163
Median Income $107,975 $84,097 $69,021
Home Value To Income 7.8x 6.8x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.24x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Novato, CA
$839,700
Median Home Value
$2,102
Median Rent
$107,975
Median Income

Novato, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Novato Services Costs Vs. California

Item Novato California
Shampoo $1.35 $1.06
Movie $16.41 $10.68
Bowling $20.0 $14.67
Haircut $22.38 $18.62
Beauty Salon $82.05 $39.05

Detailed Novato Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Novato California
Ground Beef $3.64 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.8 $1.39
Milk $2.83 $2.05
Potatoes $3.42 $3.29
Pizza $13.47 $10.62
Beer $10.5 $9.38
Toothpaste $3.18 $2.34

Detailed Novato Health Costs Vs. California

Item Novato California
Optometrist $144.57 $108.57
Doctor $149.63 $116.17
Dentist $132.68 $99.13

Detailed Novato Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Novato California
Gasoline $3.46 $2.22
Tire Balancing $65.51 $50.07

Detailed Novato Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Novato California
All Electricity $267.84 $167.67
Phone $198.18 $175.64

Novato SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
10
Affordability
4
Diversity
9
Safety
6
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
4

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Novato

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Novato. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Napa, CA has a cost of living index of 155, 0.9x Novato.

  • San Rafael, CA has a cost of living index of 192, 1.1x Novato.

  • Petaluma, CA has a cost of living index of 161, 0.9x Novato.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Novato
Napa, CA 79,700 155 0.9x
San Rafael, CA 61,158 192 1.1x
Petaluma, CA 60,050 161 0.9x
Hercules, CA 26,050 155 0.9x
American Canyon, CA 21,735 148 0.8x
San Anselmo, CA 12,795 213 1.2x
Fairfax, CA 7,605 193 1.1x
Cotati, CA 7,603 155 0.9x
Kentfield, CA 7,517 300 1.6x
Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA 6,546 207 1.1x

Articles About California

Enjoy The Snack?