Cost of Living in Mountain View, CA - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,160 (excluding rent), and $3,870 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,799 (excluding rent), and $8,510 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.1 $20.1

$15.07 $15.07

$50.2 $50.2

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$60.7 $60.7

$202 $202

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 $9.83

$7.87 $7.87

$12.78 $12.78

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$4.01 $4.01

$8.03 $8.03

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.99 $1.99

$5.97 $5.97

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.04 $2.04

$4.08 $4.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.14 $7.14

$6.12 $6.12

$10.2 $10.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.05 $10.05

$8.04 $8.04

$15.07 $15.07

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.6 $0.6

$2.09 $2.09

White Bread (500g)

$4.44 $4.44

$2.78 $2.78

$6.66 $6.66

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$2.21 $2.21

$6.64 $6.64

Eggs

$4.93 $4.93

$3 $3

$9.03 $9.03

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.63 $16.63

$13.31 $13.31

$33.26 $33.26

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.36 $15.36

$10.99 $10.99

$30.82 $30.82

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.86 $20.86

$15.35 $15.35

$43.93 $43.93

Apples (1kg)

$6.31 $6.31

$3.37 $3.37

$9.06 $9.06

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.28 $1.28

$6.43 $6.43

Oranges (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$3.29 $3.29

$8.85 $8.85

Tomato (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$3 $3

$10.68 $10.68

Potato (1kg)

$3.6 $3.6

$1.5 $1.5

$4.54 $4.54

Onion (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$1.93 $1.93

$10.86 $10.86

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.32 $1.32

$4.07 $4.07

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$0.76 $0.76

$3.53 $3.53

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.03 $10.03

$13.04 $13.04

Wine (Bottle)

$13.84 $13.84

$9.87 $9.87

$24.71 $24.71

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.69 $1.69

$2.92 $2.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.62 $1.62

$5.82 $5.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.55 $2.55

$3.26 $3.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$90.6 $90.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

$14.78 $14.78

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.71 $2.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.43 $29.43

$63.8 $63.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.13 $1.13

$1.42 $1.42

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.1K $30.1K

$24K $24K

$36.9K $36.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.8K $25.8K

$27K $27K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$271 $271

$143 $143

$454 $454

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.18 $48.18

$14.92 $14.92

$79.6 $79.6

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.1 $65.1

$49.62 $49.62

$104 $104

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 $57.4

$30.57 $30.57

$101 $101

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.91 $11.91

Cinema Ticket

$15.34 $15.34

$14.85 $14.85

$21.78 $21.78

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,830 $1,830

$1,484 $1,484

$2,473 $2,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.4K $26.4K

$18.3K $18.3K

$40.6K $40.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 $52.6

$29.7 $29.7

$97 $97

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.78 $43.78

$24.77 $24.77

$69.4 $69.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 $88.5

$50.3 $50.3

$151 $151

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$80.8 $80.8

$202 $202

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,844 $2,844

$2,478 $2,478

$3,034 $3,034

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,368 $2,368

$2,220 $2,220

$2,516 $2,516

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,159 $5,159

$1,984 $1,984

$5,159 $5,159

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,922 $4,922

$1,674 $1,674

$4,922 $4,922

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.3K $10.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.2K $10.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,520 $9,520

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.19

6.8

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: December 2, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌎 North america

Cost of Living in Mountain View, CA - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Mountain View, CA is high relative to many places, reflecting a strong tech economy and dense services. For many, the value comes from safety, walkable neighborhoods, and fast transit connections; for others, the housing component remains the biggest hurdle. If you’re prioritizing work-life balance, target areas near Castro Street, Shoreline, or Monta Loma to balance accessibility with rents. Dining and groceries span reliable options, including local markets and diverse eateries. Tip: run a two-week expense test focusing on housing, utilities, and transit to calibrate your monthly budget.

Mountain View, CA living cost is driven by housing and everyday essentials, shaping how you shop and move around. Start with a neighborhood tour to gauge rent ranges, factoring in utilities and HOA if applicable. Walkable cores and bike lanes make groceries and cafes easy, while Caltrain and express buses help with longer hops to the Peninsula or San Jose. If you work on-site, campus perks and nearby coworking spaces save time. Tip: combine errands on a single transit loop to minimize trips and save fuel.

For quality of life, build a simple budgeting framework: housing, transport, groceries, and leisure. In Mountain View, several neighborhoods offer different vibes – central downtown options with easy transit, quieter residential pockets near parks, and tech campus-adjacent areas with shorter commutes. Use seasonality to plan outdoor activities; summers are dry and evenings are pleasant, winters mild but busier with traffic around commuter peaks. Save by exploring shared housing options, bulk buying, and using library or coworking passes instead of private offices. Tip: set monthly caps per category and revisit quarterly as rents and transit fares shift.