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Cost of Living Comparison Between Boulder, CO and San Diego, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Boulder, CO and San Diego, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Boulder, CO is 9.5% cheaper than San Diego, CA without rent, and 15% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Boulder, CO is 7% more expensive than San Diego, CA without rent, and 17.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boulder, CO
San Diego, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.04 $20.04
$23.31 $23.31
-14.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5 $70.5
$98.2 $98.2
-28.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.9 $10.9
$14.92 $14.92
-26.94%
Cappuccino
$5.88 $5.88
$5.94 $5.94
-1.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$3.09 $3.09
5.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.51 $2.51
-7.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.12 $6.12
$8.01 $8.01
-23.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.1 $7.1
$8.78 $8.78
-19.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boulder, CO
San Diego, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.21 $1.21
-15.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.71 $3.71
$4.49 $4.49
-17.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$4.49 $4.49
-2.67%
Eggs
$5.62 $5.62
$5.3 $5.3
6.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.39 $13.39
$13.48 $13.48
-0.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.71 $14.71
$12.59 $12.59
16.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.4 $17.4
$18.82 $18.82
-7.55%
Apples (1kg)
$4.5 $4.5
$4.7 $4.7
-4.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.72 $1.72
-16.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$4.07 $4.07
-6.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$4.86 $4.86
-4.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$3.07 $3.07
-14.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$2.46 $2.46
6.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.21 $2.21
2.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.37 $2.37
-7.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.03 $10.03
$12.06 $12.06
-16.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.89 $16.89
$14.89 $14.89
13.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.83 $1.83
1.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 $3.73
$2.56 $2.56
45.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Boulder, CO
San Diego, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.53 $2.53
9.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$152 $152
$72.2 $72.2
110.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.56 $2.56
$3.02 $3.02
-15.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.36 $1.36
$2.02 $2.02
-32.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.07 $24.07
$27.53 $27.53
-12.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.3 $1.3
-33.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K $27.4K
$31.5K $31.5K
-13.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$27.4K $27.4K
-5.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boulder, CO
San Diego, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$273 $273
-28.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61 $61
$68.2 $68.2
-10.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.6 $71.6
$79 $79
-9.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boulder, CO
San Diego, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.9 $77.9
$66.9 $66.9
16.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.15 $20.15
$24.88 $24.88
-19.01%
Cinema Ticket
$16.78 $16.78
$16.12 $16.12
4.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boulder, CO
San Diego, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,413 $1,413
$1,650 $1,650
-14.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.9K $30.9K
$28.8K $28.8K
7.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boulder, CO
San Diego, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9 $71.9
$59.2 $59.2
21.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.78 $36.78
$57.9 $57.9
-36.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.3 $90.3
$101 $101
-10.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$116 $116
-12.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boulder, CO
San Diego, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,160 $2,160
$2,790 $2,790
-22.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 $1,881
$2,397 $2,397
-21.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,057 $4,057
$4,934 $4,934
-17.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,770 $2,770
$4,077 $4,077
-32.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,736 $4,736
$9,248 $9,248
-48.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,458 $4,458
$6,978 $6,978
-36.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boulder, CO
San Diego, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,279 $5,279
$5,519 $5,519
-4.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
6.39
0.47%

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

Last update for Boulder, CO: December 1, 2025

Last update for San Diego, CA: November 30, 2025

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