Cost of living in Palo Alto
compared to
#2
City Cost of Living Rank
Index: 102 (New York City = 100)
Cost of living in Palo Alto vs. United States overall average
Palo Alto is 49.2% more expensive than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 28.2% more in Palo Alto
- Groceries
-
pay 43.2% more in Palo Alto
- Transportation
-
pay 25.1% more in Palo Alto
- Housing
-
pay 64.5% more in Palo Alto
- Childcare
-
pay 92.3% more in Palo Alto
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 77.0% more in Palo Alto
- Clothing
-
pay 13.8% more in Palo Alto
The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, housing, groceries, restaurants, and transportation in Palo Alto are more expensive than in United States. Notably, childcare and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Palo Alto.
Palo Alto Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $30.00 |
$15.00
$15.00
$45.00
$45.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00 |
$10.00
$10.00
$13.00
$13.00
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $3.30 |
$2.50
$2.50
$5.00
$5.00
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $2.44 |
$1.00
$1.00
$4.00
$4.00
|
Palo Alto - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$5.06 |
$1.10
$1.10
$8.27
$8.27
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $11.39 |
$5.00
$5.00
$16.53
$16.53
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $5.85 |
$2.00
$2.00
$8.00
$8.00
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$6.26 |
$2.00
$2.00
$9.17
$9.17
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $6.63 |
$3.00
$3.00
$12.00
$12.00
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $3.22 |
$1.50
$1.50
$4.00
$4.00
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $1.18 |
$0.50
$0.50
$3.00
$3.00
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.37 |
$1.00
$1.00
$5.99
$5.99
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $3.01 |
$1.36
$1.36
$4.99
$4.99
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.94 |
$0.66
$0.66
$3.00
$3.00
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $2.19 |
$0.89
$0.89
$4.00
$4.00
|
Palo Alto - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $4.84 |
$4.35
$4.35
$5.40
$5.40
|
| Monthly public transit pass | $90.00 | -- |
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $36,753.89 |
$30,000.00
$30K
$37,649.85
$38K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $19.06 |
$18.41
$18.41
$33.35
$33.35
|
Palo Alto - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.78 |
$45.00
$45.00
$100.00
$100.00
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $3,600.00 |
$3,400.00
$3K
$3,900.00
$4K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $3,148.75 |
$3,000.00
$3K
$3,395.00
$3K
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$179.63 |
$91.76
$91.76
$318.02
$318.02
|
Palo Alto - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $2,823.00 |
$1,500.00
$2K
$4,500.00
$4K
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $42,000.00 |
$36,000.00
$36K
$45,000.00
$45K
|
Palo Alto - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $8.00 |
$5.00
$5.00
$10.00
$10.00
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $5.83 |
$3.72
$3.72
$9.00
$9.00
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.50 |
$10.00
$10.00
$16.00
$16.00
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $206.33 |
$40.00
$40.00
$299.00
$299.00
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $16.00 |
$14.00
$14.00
$20.00
$20.00
|
Palo Alto - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$67.50 |
$30.00
$30.00
$98.00
$98.00
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$46.00 |
$20.00
$20.00
$70.00
$70.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$88.89 |
$50.00
$50.00
$135.00
$135.00
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $125.00 |
$80.00
$80.00
$200.00
$200.00
|
Palo Alto - Cost of clothing
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