Overview of Living in Pleasant Hill
Why Choose to Live in Pleasant Hill?
Locals say Pleasant Hill sits in a Goldilocks pocket of the Bay Area—close enough to San Francisco to feel the buzz, far enough to keep your sanity. You can live in Pleasant Hill and still catch a Warriors game or a Berkeley street-fest without losing half a day to I-80 gridlock.
Pleasant Hill is the home of Diablo Valley College, leafy cul-de-sacs, and community staples like Hill Park, the brand-new Pleasant Hill Library, and Pleasant Hill Recreation’s summer concerts.
For many, that combo makes it a genuinely great place to live, even if it’s an expensive place to live by national standards.
General Cost of Living in Pleasant Hill
Let’s get the sticker shock out of the way: the Hill cost of living index clocks in at roughly 44 percent higher than the national average, according to PayScale’s Cost of Living Calculator.
Housing, utilities, and transportation do the heavy lifting, each well above U.S. norms.
Still, when you scan cost of living data across urban areas, Pleasant Hill lands in the “pricey-but-not-outrageous” middle tier for a city in California.
Comparative Analysis with Nearby Cities
Pleasant Hill’s numbers land squarely between its neighbors.
Redfin puts the Pleasant Hill median home price around $900k, while Walnut Creek hovers near $1.1m, and Concord sits closer to $775k. Martinez, meanwhile, tracks roughly $870k.
Rents echo that spread: Pleasant Hill averages ~$2,250 for a one-bed, Walnut Creek tops $2,450, and Concord dips to ~$1,900.
Pair those costs with median household incomes—about $145k in Pleasant Hill versus $109k in Concord—and Pleasant Hill lands in the “pricey-but-balanced” sweet spot: more affordable than Walnut Creek, but with higher wages and shorter BART rides than budget-friendly Concord.
In short, if you’re moving to Pleasant Hill for walkability and commute ease, you’ll pay a premium, just not a Walnut Creek premium.
Housing and Real Estate in Pleasant Hill
Average Housing Costs in Pleasant Hill
Housing dominates local living expenses.
PayScale pegs the median home price at $899,404 and monthly rent around $2,702.
Zillow’s June 2025 snapshot reinforces that trend, showing home prices flirting with $1.02 million.
Those numbers sit far higher than the national average, underscoring why housing costs top every resident’s budget calculator.
Real Estate Trends and Median Home Prices
Redfin’s latest data shows the median sale price for homes for sale in Pleasant Hill, CA, at about $870 K, down 15 percent year-over-year, with listings drawing roughly three offers and going pending in ~25 days.
That still sits a notch above the broader Contra Costa County median of $825k, underscoring Pleasant Hill’s premium for a BART stop, strong schools, and rare new-build inventory.
Higher mortgage rates have cooled bidding wars, but updated ranches near Gregory Gardens or mid-century splits by Hillcrest Park continue to fetch top dollar, while fixers linger just long enough for buyers to land a deal.
Most agents expect a gentle uptick once rates ease, keeping home prices on a slow, steady ascent rather than the roller-coaster spikes of 2022.
Buying vs. Renting a Home in Pleasant Hill
Renters aren’t off the hook. Apartments.com lists the average rental costs at $2,240 a month as of June 2025. That’s 38% above the U.S. mean.
A starter condo mortgage often runs higher once HOA dues and taxes join the party, so many newcomers rent first, track real estate trends, then pounce when the math works.
Transportation Expenses in Pleasant Hill
Average Transportation Costs in Pleasant Hill
Commuters juggle California’s infamous gas prices—AAA shows Contra Costa averaging $4.66 for regular in June 2025.
Toss in bridge tolls and car insurance, and transportation quickly becomes a hefty expense category.
Public Transportation Options Around Pleasant Hill
BART—Bay Area Rapid Transit—is the region’s hybrid subway/commuter-rail network, stretching 131 miles and linking San Francisco with Oakland, Berkeley, and the outer East Bay.
The Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre station sits on the Antioch–SFO/Millbrae (Yellow) line, so trains reach downtown SF in roughly 40 minutes.
A one-way swipe to Embarcadero is about $5.15, with a 5.5 percent fare bump set for January 2025. County Connection buses fan out from the station, and secure bike lockers plus a $3/day garage make park-and-ride easy.
Many locals run the numbers and find that a $200 monthly Clipper pass beats the combined hit of gas, Bay Bridge tolls, downtown parking, and higher-than-average insurance, especially for households debating whether they really need that second car.
Cost of Owning a Car in Pleasant Hill
Car ownership brings $600-$800 in annual registration, above-average insurance premiums, and maintenance that climbs with Bay Area labor rates.
Plugging those figures into a calculator clarifies whether a second vehicle fits your budget for housing expenses or blows up your savings and investment goals.
Utilities and Household Expenses
Average Utility Costs in Pleasant Hill
Brace yourself—utility bills in Pleasant Hill bite almost as hard as housing.
Utility bills in Pleasant Hill can feel like a second mortgage. PG&E’s latest filing lists the residential electric rate at 44.65 ¢ per kWh; run a modest 500 kWh in July, and the power portion of your bill is roughly $223 before taxes and fees.
Natural-gas heat isn’t cheap either—PG&E raised gas rates another 8 percent this year—so winter bills for a drafty ranch can flirt with $70.
Water comes from Contra Costa Water District, where the 2025 schedule charges a daily service fee plus $6.52 per 748-gallon “unit”; eight units push a typical single-family tab to about $85.
Sewer runs a flat $754 a year (roughly $63 a month) through Central San, and curbside trash/recycling with Republic Services starts at about $35 a month for a 32-gallon cart.
Toss in broadband—plus the obligatory streaming stack, and a family in a mid-size home can easily drop $500-plus each month on utilities alone.
Grocery Prices and Food Expenses in Pleasant Hill
Grocery carts echo the trend: PayScale lists grocery costs 16% above national norms. Organic lovers pay even more at the Sunday farmers market.
Whether you label it the cost of groceries, food costs, or just “my lunch bill,” remember California produce comes at a premium.
Healthcare Costs for Residents in Pleasant Hill
Health insurance isn’t immune. The average Covered California bronze plan rings in at $644 a month for 2025.
Co-pays and deductibles trail roughly 20% above U.S. norms, making healthcare a significant chunk of any living in California budget.
Advantages of Living in Pleasant Hill
Average Salary in Pleasant Hill
Big costs meet big paychecks. According to the Census Bureau QuickFacts table, the median household income stands at $144,513.
That solid gross income dwarfs the state’s $16.50 minimum wage and helps residents shoulder those hefty mortgages.
Quality of Life and Community
Beyond spreadsheets, Pleasant Hill scores high on livability. Low crime, sunny weather, and weekly “Off the Grid” food-truck nights cultivate community.
Residents rave about after-school classes at Pleasant Hill Recreation, cyclists cruise the Contra Costa Canal Trail, and locals swap garden veggies at Hillcrest’s mini free-farm stand.
Those intangibles rarely surface in classic cost of living information, yet they often tip the decision scale.
Access to Amenities and Services
Most errands sit within a ten-minute drive. Boutique gyms, farm-to-table eateries, and all the big-box essentials ring the downtown. John Muir Health keeps health-care costs competitive for the region.
Easy access to these goods and services trims time in traffic, a hidden boost to day-to-day affordability.
Summary
So—worth it? If you command East Bay wages and crave small-town charm with big-city reach, Pleasant Hill’s price tag can pencil out.
Yes, costs in Pleasant Hill track well above the U.S. norm, but wages, amenities, and that laid-back vibe balance the books for many.
Factor every expense category into a personalized cost of living calculator, weigh your priorities, and you’ll know if this city in Contra Costa is your next address.
FAQs About the Cost of Living in Pleasant Hill, CA
Is Pleasant Hill an expensive place to live compared to other Bay Area suburbs?
Yes, the Pleasant Hill cost of living sits in the mid-range. Housing and utilities run high, yet it’s still cheaper than Berkeley or Palo Alto. The PayScale cost of living index shows Pleasant Hill is about 44 percent above the national average.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Pleasant Hill?
MIT’s Living Wage Calculator puts single-adult essentials near $63,500 before taxes for Contra Costa County. A family with kids needs much more, so shoot for housing at no more than 30 percent of your take-home.
Are there any tools to compare the cost of living in Pleasant Hill with other cities?
Yes. Use PayScale’s Cost of Living Calculator or BestPlaces.net for a quick snapshot. Plug your numbers to compare the cost of living and see if Pleasant Hill fits.
How much will I spend on rent if I’m a newcomer?
Expect rental costs around $2,240 for a one-bedroom, according to Apartments.com. Larger units climb fast, so budget carefully if you’re a renter watching every dollar.
