Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen County, NJ and San Diego, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Bergen County, NJ and San Diego, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,079 in Bergen County, NJ versus $3,906 in San Diego, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,118 in Bergen County, NJ versus $5,746 in San Diego, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,157 in Bergen County, NJ versus $7,587 in San Diego, CA.

Living in Bergen County, NJ is roughly 4% more expensive than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bergen County, NJ 204% above, San Diego, CA 191% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.71 $19.71

$23.14 $23.14

-14.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$101 $101

-16.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.07 $14.07

$14.74 $14.74

-4.55%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$6.04 $6.04

-16.89%

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

$2.45 $2.45

$3.03 $3.03

-19.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.51 $2.51

-10.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 $6.80

$7.83 $7.83

-13.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.15 $9.15

$8.76 $8.76

4.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.25 $1.25

0.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.44 $4.44

$4.50 $4.50

-1.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.96 $8.96

$4.44 $4.44

101.80%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$5.26 $5.26

-6.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.37 $17.37

$13.57 $13.57

28.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.94 $11.94

$12.53 $12.53

-4.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.72 $17.72

$18.69 $18.69

-5.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.79 $4.79

5.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.65 $1.65

7.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$3.91 $3.91

2.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$4.77 $4.77

-11.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.95 $2.95

-1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.47 $2.47

55.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.27 $2.27

7.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.45 $2.45

-8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.54 $13.54

$11.88 $11.88

13.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.12 $15.12

$14.86 $14.86

1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.74 $1.74

1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.53 $2.53

41.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.52 $2.52

70.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$171 $171

$72.5 $72.5

135.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 $2.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.07 $2.07

-33.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.68 $23.68

$28.14 $28.14

-15.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.30 $1.30

-29.23%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$31.1K $31.1K

-6.12%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.7K $26.7K

-3.55%

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

$126 $126

$272 $272

-53.56%

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

$45.22 $45.22

$67.6 $67.6

-33.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$78.2 $78.2

-16.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 $42.15

$66.9 $66.9

-36.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.81 $24.81

Cinema Ticket

$17.11 $17.11

$16.20 $16.20

5.62%

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

$2,294 $2,294

$1,596 $1,596

43.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$28.3K $28.3K

-16.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 $74.9

$59.8 $59.8

25.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.44 $24.44

$58.9 $58.9

-58.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 $87.5

$98.5 $98.5

-11.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$116 $116

0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,728 $2,728

$2,832 $2,832

-3.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,685 $2,685

$2,390 $2,390

12.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,719 $4,719

$4,901 $4,901

-3.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,968 $2,968

$4,183 $4,183

-29.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,947 $3,947

$8,232 $8,232

-52.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,701 $3,701

$6,581 $6,581

-43.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,456 $5,456

$5,342 $5,342

2.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.39

2.82%

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

Last update for Bergen County, NJ: June 2, 2026

Last update for San Diego, CA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,728 in Bergen County, NJ and $2,832 in San Diego, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bergen County, NJ pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $84.0 in Bergen County, NJ vs $101 in San Diego, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $450 vs $425, with San Diego, CA cheaper for home cooking.

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

Bergen County, NJ vs San Diego, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bergen County, NJ and San Diego, CA differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($4,079 vs $3,906 including rent). San Diego, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bergen County, NJ pays 2% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,728 in Bergen County, NJ versus $2,832 in San Diego, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in San Diego, CA – a meal for two runs $101 versus $84.0 in Bergen County, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $4,079 per month in Bergen County, NJ versus $3,906 in San Diego, CA – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. San Diego, 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, Bergen County, NJ and San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Bergen County, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.