Cost Of Living In Fremont, CA (Taxes, Housing & More)

Fremont, California is a metropolitan city nestled on the southeast portion of the San Francisco Bay. It is home to historic landmarks of California’s 19th century past, as well as grand open green spaces like Central Park and waterways like Lake Elizabeth.

Though it is close to the hustle and bustle of San Francisco and many local top universities, Fremont has a slightly slower pace even though it’s still home to tech executives and Silicon Valley bigwigs. It has cool and sunny climes just like the rest of Northern California, while also featuring parks and historical landmarks. But knowing its proximity to such an expensive region, you’re probably wondering: how much it will cost you to settle in Fremont?

The median home cost of living in Fremont, California is $1,123,800. You’re sure to have raised eyebrows over this exorbitant price, but it is even more shocking considering it doesn’t account for other lifestyle expenses like groceries, utilities, or schooling. That will make it even more expensive to settle in Fremont. With a crazy high cost of living index of 227.2, Fremont’s bloated housing costs are significantly higher than California overall.

The livable wage in Alameda County (where Fremont is located) amounts to about $21.88 per hour for a single adult. The minimum wage in California is $12.00 per hour. This huge gap in livable versus minimum wage signals how unaffordable Fremont can be for the average person.

It doesn’t get much worse than Fremont when it comes to the cost of living, despite the beautiful local scenery and prime “NorCal” location. Below, we’ll detail the rest of the expenses that contribute to making Fremont, California one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S.

Homeownership in Fremont, California is only accessible to the wealthy, especially considering the housing index is 247 points higher than the rest of the state. This is certainly concerning since California is already an expensive place to live. The median cost of a home in California is $552,800, which is around half the median home price in Fremont.

You’ll have a hard time finding viable real estate in Fremont that doesn’t go for at least $800,000 to $1 million. These properties are not mansions by any means. They are family homes around 1,500 square feet that could cost many times less in a different, equally beautiful place. There’s no question that renting may be the only option for some.

Fremont doesn’t look any more favorable when you consider the cost to rent. Nearly $2,000 for a studio apartment is double what it will cost you in other areas of the U.S. This will make it challenging for young professionals and families to join the Fremont community. There’s no question that roommates or significant others are an absolute necessity to lower the rent burden.

Unsurprisingly, California ranks second on the list of states with the highest rental prices in the nation, behind Hawaii. It’s also important to note that some cities in California – San Francisco included – have some of the highest reported rents in the country. The average monthly rent for an apartment in Fremont, however, is a staggering $2,470.

To put things in perspective, the following table outlines how the average monthly rent in Fremont compares to other neighboring cities in the state of California:

Food is the area of your budget that can either make or break your living expenses. The Bay Area is notorious for luxurious dining options and heavy use of food delivery apps. If you want to save some money to make the area more affordable, you’ll need to shop at less expensive grocery stores and seek budget-friendly options at local farmer’s markets. The more children you have depending on you, the more you’ll need to put aside for food.

Take a look at this list we’ve compiled of estimated food prices in Fremont:

Fremont has many attractions to satisfy your craving for adventure or desire to get outside. Residents can visit the historical sites, like the Silent Film Museum, Shinn Historic Park, or Higuera Adobe. Alternatively, you can enjoy the year-round beautiful weather by visiting Quarry Lakes Regional Park or taking a drive along the coast.

Your entertainment budget may be difficult to stick to in such an expensive region of the U.S. But you can make it work if you take advantage of free activities and track your monthly spending consistently. Check out our list below of common activities in Fremont and how much they cost.

When you live in Fremont, you may feel intense pressure to put your children in private schools. This can seem like a good decision, especially if you have the funds to support it. But are you paying for a glamorous façade when public school is just as good or even better?

In Fremont, each teacher provides education to about 26 students, with schools in the area paying about $9,332 per student. This is less than the U.S. average, which you may find surprising considering the high-end nature of the area. Read on to learn about your options for education in Fremont:

Related Questions

How much do you need to live comfortably in Fremont?

On average, to live comfortably in Fremont as a single adult with no children you will need to make at least $47,590 a year. As the family grows, the living wage obviously increases. A family of four with one working adult needs $97,656, while a family of four with two working adults needs a total income of $134,326.The available tech sector jobs available in Fremont typically support this cost of living, however, it is difficult for workers who do not work in the tech sector to afford this cost of living.

Is Fremont a good place to live?

Fremont is undeniably a beautiful location nestled in the Bay Area. Because of the thriving software and technology market nearby, the area’s housing prices have grown rapidly to match rising incomes in that particular sector. If you are part of the tech industry, you’ll love Fremont and enjoy the weather. But if you have a normal job under $80,000 per year, it may not be the best choice.

What are the main industries in Fremont?

Elon Musk’s Tesla factory is the largest employer in Fremont, with over 13,000 workers. There are also numerous tech companies in the city, led by Lam Research and Western Digital, large players in semiconductors and hard drives and storage, respectively. The city’s waterfront is made up of industrial and logistics space.

Fremont, California boasts the best of Northern California’s natural beauty with less of the fast-paced city features of San Francisco. For the right person, Fremont has everything you could ever want and more.

High housing prices for basic family homes will make it difficult for the average buyer to enter the market, so think twice about moving to Fremont unless you can rake in big money.

Fremont, CA is blessed with great weather, tons of entertainment and culture options, and hundreds of excellent jobs for motivated tech workers. If you have what it takes to hack it in the competitive tech field, Fremont could be a good place to call home.

If you’re not completely sold on Fremont but are still considering relocating to the Golden State, check out What Are The 10 Fastest Growing Cities In California?