Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria, VA and Los Gatos, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Alexandria, VA and Los Gatos, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,261 in Alexandria, VA versus $2,819 in Los Gatos, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,676 in Alexandria, VA versus $4,149 in Los Gatos, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,091 in Alexandria, VA versus $5,480 in Los Gatos, CA.

Living in Alexandria, VA is roughly 16% more expensive than Los Gatos, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alexandria, VA 143% above, Los Gatos, CA 110% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.72 $19.72

$29.70 $29.70

-33.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.4 $81.4

$109 $109

-25.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.93 $9.93

$14.18 $14.18

-29.97%

Cappuccino

$5.05 $5.05

$4.75 $4.75

6.32%

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

$2.34 $2.34

$2.99 $2.99

-21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.24 $2.24

-1.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$8.94 $8.94

-32.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.33 $7.33

$7.84 $7.84

-6.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.45 $1.45

-30.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 $3.54

$5.12 $5.12

-30.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$3.20 $3.20

91.56%

Eggs

$4.94 $4.94

$5.22 $5.22

-5.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.69 $18.69

$13.17 $13.17

41.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.72 $9.72

$15.03 $15.03

-35.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 $15.86

$17.14 $17.14

-7.47%

Apples (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$7.58 $7.58

-6.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.17 $2.17

-19.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.21 $7.21

$4.44 $4.44

62.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.53 $6.53

$4.84 $4.84

34.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.00 $3.00

14.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.39 $3.39

-13.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.10 $2.10

14.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.63 $2.63

1.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.91 $7.91

$10.50 $10.50

-24.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.16 $13.16

12.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.68 $1.68

1.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.95 $3.95

-6.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.07 $3.07

$1.96 $1.96

56.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.1 $80.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 $1.85

$3.56 $3.56

-48.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.82 $1.82

-23.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.98 $23.98

$30.46 $30.46

-21.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.24 $1.24

-30.65%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$23.6K $23.6K

5.18%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$26.0K $26.0K

-4.11%

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

$170 $170

$221 $221

-22.97%

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

$52.9 $52.9

$39.77 $39.77

33.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 $67.3

$63.3 $63.3

6.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.6 $72.6

$43.81 $43.81

65.69%

Cinema Ticket

$15.09 $15.09

$14.35 $14.35

5.16%

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

$1,279 $1,279

$1,164 $1,164

9.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$23.8K $23.8K

2.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 $50.9

$56.0 $56.0

-9.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.15 $49.15

$40.77 $40.77

20.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.1 $95.1

$92.2 $92.2

3.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$78.6 $78.6

40.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,393 $2,393

$1,629 $1,629

46.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,890 $1,890

$1,336 $1,336

41.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,550 $3,550

$2,578 $2,578

37.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,820 $2,820

$2,218 $2,218

27.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,634 $6,634

$3,556 $3,556

86.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,054 $4,054

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,030 $6,030

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.67

-1.50%

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

Last update for Alexandria, VA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Los Gatos, CA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,393 in Alexandria, VA and $1,629 in Los Gatos, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $81.0 in Alexandria, VA vs $109 in Los Gatos, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $452 vs $457 per month, with Alexandria, VA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Alexandria, VA vs Los Gatos, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alexandria, VA and Los Gatos, CA differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($3,261 vs $2,819 including rent). Los Gatos, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,892 in Alexandria, VA and $4,229 in Los Gatos, CA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,393 in Alexandria, VA versus $1,629 in Los Gatos, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,279 in Alexandria, VA versus $1,164 in Los Gatos, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Los Gatos, CA – a meal for two runs $109 versus $81.0 in Alexandria, VA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Los Gatos, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Alexandria, VA and Los Gatos, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Los Gatos, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Alexandria, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.