Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria, VA and Carlsbad, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria, VA and Carlsbad, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Alexandria, VA is 9.2% cheaper than Carlsbad, CA without rent, and 12.8% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Alexandria, VA is 1.3% cheaper than Carlsbad, CA without rent, and 11.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$19.82 $19.82

0.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.7 $79.7

$83 $83

-4.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 $9.83

$11.85 $11.85

-17.05%

Cappuccino

$4.95 $4.95

$4.91 $4.91

0.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$2.78 $2.78

-15.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.96 $1.96

9.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$7.06 $7.06

-15.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.47 $7.47

$7.1 $7.1

5.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.98 $3.98

-12.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.12 $6.12

$4.05 $4.05

51.11%

Eggs

$4.96 $4.96

$5.42 $5.42

-8.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.77 $18.77

$10.57 $10.57

77.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10 $10

$8.39 $8.39

19.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.99 $15.99

$14.16 $14.16

12.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.98 $6.98

$3.39 $3.39

105.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.74 $1.74

1.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$7 $7

$2.73 $2.73

156.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.63 $6.63

$5.48 $5.48

20.99%

Potato (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.67 $3.67

-6.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.18 $3.18

-7.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.49 $2.49

$1.38 $1.38

80.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.21 $2.21

19.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.23 $8.23

$10.86 $10.86

-24.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.35 $16.35

$15.09 $15.09

8.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.46 $1.46

15.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 $3.83

$1.2 $1.2

219.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.46 $2.46

18.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.8 $80.8

$175 $175

-53.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 $1.83

$9.95 $9.95

-81.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.71 $1.71

-21.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.2 $24.2

$34.36 $34.36

-29.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.28 $1.28

-35.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$23.4K $23.4K

9.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.8K $24.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

1.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$171 $171

$238 $238

-28.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.9 $51.9

$46.86 $46.86

10.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 $67.3

$60.2 $60.2

11.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.6 $71.6

$84.9 $84.9

-15.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.38 $33.38

Cinema Ticket

$14.81 $14.81

$21.07 $21.07

-29.71%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,199 $1,199

5.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$23.9K $23.9K

0.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 $51.6

$52.5 $52.5

-1.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.04 $49.04

$23.68 $23.68

107.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.6 $96.6

$78.3 $78.3

23.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$85.1 $85.1

28.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,375 $2,375

$2,627 $2,627

-9.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,906 $1,906

$2,251 $2,251

-15.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,519 $3,519

$4,418 $4,418

-20.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,874 $2,874

$3,548 $3,548

-19.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,964 $3,964

$6,995 $6,995

-43.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,711 $3,711

$6,742 $6,742

-44.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,867 $5,867

$6,370 $6,370

-7.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

5.97

10.05%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alexandria, VA: November 29, 2025

Last update for Carlsbad, CA: December 2, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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