Albany, CA vs Gilroy, CA

Gilroy is moderately more affordable than Albany, with a 12% lower cost of living index. Albany scores 211 compared to 188 for Gilroy, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Albany can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Albany is $2,389/month compared to $2,270/month in Gilroy — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Gilroy is more affordable at $975,800 median vs $1,188,600.

Median household income in Albany is $135,927 compared to $131,554 in Gilroy (+3.3%). Albany does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Albany spend roughly 21.1% of their income on rent, more than the 20.7% in Gilroy.