Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, VA and Oakland, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Arlington, VA and Oakland, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Arlington, VA is 3.3% cheaper than Oakland, CA without rent, and 6.3% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Arlington, VA is 8.4% cheaper than Oakland, CA without rent, and 6.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.54 $24.54

$29.9 $29.9

-17.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.5 $88.5

$145 $145

-38.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.84 $11.84

$14.38 $14.38

-17.66%

Cappuccino

$5.41 $5.41

$4.79 $4.79

12.94%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.65 $2.65

10.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.15 $2.15

16.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.02 $8.02

$8.07 $8.07

-0.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.82 $8.82

$8.16 $8.16

8.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.42 $1.42

-12.68%

White Bread (500g)

$4.1 $4.1

$5.04 $5.04

-18.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$6.15 $6.15

10.73%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$6.86 $6.86

-37.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.79 $17.79

$20.44 $20.44

-12.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.75 $14.75

$14.85 $14.85

-0.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.38 $21.38

$16.6 $16.6

28.80%

Apples (1kg)

$6.26 $6.26

$7.69 $7.69

-18.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.24 $2.24

-8.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.35 $6.35

-17.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$6.06 $6.06

-5.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.38 $4.38

-21.46%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$3.37 $3.37

0.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.18 $2.18

21.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.09 $3.09

-20.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.3 $12.3

$11.08 $11.08

11.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.17 $17.17

$12.2 $12.2

40.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.71 $1.71

18.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.03 $4.03

6.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.09 $3.09

11.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$125 $125

$86.1 $86.1

45.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.6 $3.6

-16.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.44 $2.44

-34.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.75 $21.75

$39.3 $39.3

-44.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.3 $1.3

-30.00%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$23.9K $23.9K

23.63%

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

$26K $26K

$26.1K $26.1K

-0.17%

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

$205 $205

$278 $278

-26.33%

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

$59.8 $59.8

$53.8 $53.8

11.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.9 $69.9

$72.5 $72.5

-3.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$53.6 $53.6

43.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.96 $23.96

$12.83 $12.83

86.75%

Cinema Ticket

$14.84 $14.84

$14.72 $14.72

0.82%

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

$2,074 $2,074

$2,694 $2,694

-23.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$37.9K $37.9K

3.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.9 $55.9

$62.2 $62.2

-10.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.48 $49.48

$60.4 $60.4

-18.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 $92.6

$94.5 $94.5

-2.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$126 $126

12.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,473 $2,473

$1,935 $1,935

27.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,930 $1,930

$1,715 $1,715

12.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,350 $4,350

$4,510 $4,510

-3.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,575 $3,575

$3,602 $3,602

-0.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,644 $4,644

$7,068 $7,068

-34.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,073 $4,073

$7,087 $7,087

-42.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,454 $6,454

$5,604 $5,604

15.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

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

Last update for Arlington, VA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Oakland, CA: October 28, 2025

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