Cost of living in East Palo Alto, CA — Housing, Rent & Index

The median home value in East Palo Alto, CA is $1,037,416 as of 2026-04. That places East Palo Alto above the US average for housing cost, with a cost index of approximately 292 versus a national baseline of 100.

Over the past 12 months, the median home value in East Palo Alto has fallen 3.1%, and over the past five years it has averaged -1.4% annual growth. The current price sits -14.0% from its 5-year peak in 2022-05.

Renters pay a median of $4,218 per month in East Palo Alto. Rents have changed — over the last year and averaged — per year over five years.

Beyond housing, day-to-day costs in East Palo Alto are shaped by state and local taxes, utility rates, transportation, and groceries. This page focuses on the housing component, which is the largest single line in most household budgets and the easiest to compare across cities using consistent national data.