Burlingame, CA vs Malibu, CA

Burlingame is moderately more affordable than Malibu, with a 8.1% lower cost of living index. Burlingame scores 285 compared to 310 for Malibu, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Malibu can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Burlingame is $2,643/month compared to $3,501/month in Malibu — a 25% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Burlingame has cheaper rent, Malibu actually has lower median home values ($2,000,001 vs $2,000,001).

Median household income in Burlingame is $168,832 compared to $192,159 in Malibu (-12.1%). While Malibu is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Burlingame spend roughly 18.8% of their income on rent, less than the 21.9% in Malibu.