Hillsborough, CA vs Mill Valley, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Mill Valley, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.6% higher than Hillsborough, CA.

Hillsborough, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,660 / month
Mill Valley, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,960 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Hillsborough, CA and Mill Valley, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Hillsborough, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $37.94/month in Mill Valley, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,455 in Mill Valley, CA

Regional cost estimates: Hillsborough, CA uses Oakland, CA. Mill Valley, CA uses Oakland, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 0.6%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$37.94

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$455

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Hillsborough, CA

Population:11K

Cost Index:

151.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$3.18M

Mill Valley, CA

Population:14K

Cost Index:

152.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.96M

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Hillsborough, CA

The Golden State

11K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 11K residents.

Mill Valley, CA

The Golden State

14K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 14K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Hillsborough, CA vs Mill Valley, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Hillsborough, CA	Mill Valley, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,669/mo	$3,690/mo	↑ $20.52more	0.6%
Transportation	$1,283/mo	$1,290/mo	↑ $7.17more	0.6%
Other	$1,114/mo	$1,120/mo	↑ $6.23more	0.6%
Groceries	$718/mo	$720/mo	↑ $2.01more	0.3%
Healthcare	$438/mo	$439/mo	↑ $1.22more	0.3%
All Utilities	$278/mo	$278/mo	↑ $0.78more	0.3%

Housing

↑ 0.6%

Hillsborough, CA

$3,669

Mill Valley, CA

$3,690

Difference

$20.52

Transportation

↑ 0.6%

Hillsborough, CA

$1,283

Mill Valley, CA

$1,290

Difference

$7.17

Other

↑ 0.6%

Hillsborough, CA

$1,114

Mill Valley, CA

$1,120

Difference

$6.23

Groceries

↑ 0.3%

Hillsborough, CA

$718

Mill Valley, CA

$720

Difference

$2.01

Healthcare

↑ 0.3%

Hillsborough, CA

$438

Mill Valley, CA

$439

Difference

$1.22

All Utilities

↑ 0.3%

Hillsborough, CA

$278

Mill Valley, CA

$278

Difference

$0.78

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,520

To$2,730

↑ $210

1 Bed

From$3,020

To$3,270

↑ $250

2 Bed

From$3,660

To$3,960

↑ $300

3 Bed

From$4,680

To$5,060

↑ $380

Hillsborough, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,020–$3,020/mo

Mill Valley, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,270–$3,270/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Hillsborough, CA

$7,538

Monthly in Mill Valley, CA

$37.94

Difference

Home Values

Hillsborough

Mill Valley

$3.18M

Median Value

$1.96M

↑ +3.9%

YoY Change

↑ +0.9%

↑ +16.9%

5-Year Change

↑ +16.8%

Homes in Mill Valley are 38% less expensive than Hillsborough

Calculate payment - Hillsborough Calculate payment - Mill Valley

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Hillsborough, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Mill Valley, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Hillsborough, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Mill Valley, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Hillsborough

Mill Valley

49 Good

Air Quality

49 Good

53%

Good Air Days

53%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+1.9°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+1.9°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

Before moving from Hillsborough, CA to Mill Valley, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Mill Valley, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Hillsborough, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Hillsborough to Mill Valley moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Mill Valley, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Hillsborough, CA vs Mill Valley, CA

How do the cost estimates for Hillsborough, CA and Mill Valley, CA compare?

Mill Valley, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.6% higher than Hillsborough, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Hillsborough, CA, the model estimates $150,455 in Mill Valley, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Hillsborough, CA and Mill Valley, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,660/month in Hillsborough, CA and $3,960/month in Mill Valley, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.