πA single person spends $3,204 per month in Cupertino, CA vs $2,639 in Fredericksburg, VA, rent included.
πA couple spends around $5,191 per month in Cupertino, CA vs $3,913 in Fredericksburg, VA, rent included.
πA family of three spends $7,177 per month in Cupertino, CA vs $5,187 in Fredericksburg, VA, rent included.
πCupertino, CA costs about 21% more than Fredericksburg, VA, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth Cupertino, CA and Fredericksburg, VA sit above the global median β Cupertino, CA by 139%, Fredericksburg, VA by 97%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Cupertino, CA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.85$22.85
$27.82$27.82
-17.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.3$67.3
$78.8$78.8
-14.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.87$9.87
$9.93$9.93
-0.60%
Cappuccino
$5.36$5.36
$4.71$4.71
13.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43$2.43
$2.97$2.97
-18.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46$2.46
$2.08$2.08
18.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.05$6.05
$5.97$5.97
1.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.48$8.48
$9.22$9.22
-8.03%
π Groceries & Markets
Cupertino, CA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28$1.28
$1.19$1.19
7.56%
White Bread(500g)
$3.59$3.59
$4.11$4.11
-12.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.54$4.54
$4.25$4.25
6.82%
Eggs
$3.42$3.42
$2.77$2.77
23.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57$8.57
$17.76$17.76
-51.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.93$10.93
$15.53$15.53
-29.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.87$10.87
$19.59$19.59
-44.51%
Apples(1kg)
$6.35$6.35
$6.29$6.29
0.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77$1.77
$1.50$1.50
18.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.54$4.54
$5.27$5.27
-13.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.57$5.57
$6.41$6.41
-13.10%
Potato(1kg)
$3.78$3.78
$3.40$3.40
11.18%
Onion(1kg)
$5.77$5.77
$3.68$3.68
56.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87$1.87
$2.53$2.53
-26.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$2.49$2.49
-17.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.94$9.94
$8.47$8.47
17.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.10$13.10
$16.13$16.13
-18.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$1.75$1.75
17.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57$2.57
$2.55$2.55
0.78%
π Getting Around
Cupertino, CA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$1.95$1.95
1.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$142$142
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46$3.46
$3.85$3.85
-10.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67$1.67
$1.57$1.57
6.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.56$29.56
$29.54$29.54
0.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28$1.28
$0.85$0.85
50.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K$30.5K
$29.8K$29.8K
2.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K$27.0K
$26.1K$26.1K
3.33%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cupertino, CA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188$188
$202$202
-6.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.4$50.4
$43.20$43.20
16.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.3$65.3
$69.1$69.1
-5.53%
π Sport & Entertainment
Cupertino, CA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.47$45.47
$25.21$25.21
80.36%
Cinema Ticket
$18.33$18.33
$11.49$11.49
59.53%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Cupertino, CA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,134$2,134
$2,634$2,634
-18.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.7K$23.7K
$39.9K$39.9K
-40.52%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Cupertino, CA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.12$32.12
$57.0$57.0
-43.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.13$35.13
$50.9$50.9
-31.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.4$69.4
$89.6$89.6
-22.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.7$68.7
$142$142
-51.64%
π Accommodation & Living
Cupertino, CA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,442$2,442
$1,722$1,722
41.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,937$1,937
$1,287$1,287
50.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,573$4,573
$3,031$3,031
50.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$4,110$4,110
$2,161$2,161
90.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,225$3,225
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,246$3,246
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Cupertino, CA
Fredericksburg, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,627$7,627
$4,555$4,555
67.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
6.45
1.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cupertino, CA: May 31, 2026
Last update for Fredericksburg, VA: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $2,442 in Cupertino, CA versus $1,722 in Fredericksburg, VA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 67% higher in Cupertino, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Cupertino, CA versus $79.0 in Fredericksburg, VA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 vs $468 β making Cupertino, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Cupertino, CA vs Fredericksburg, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Cupertino, CA and Fredericksburg, VA compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,204 in Cupertino, CA, $2,639 in Fredericksburg, VA β roughly 21% apart. Cupertino, CA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Cupertino, CA compared to Fredericksburg, VA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,806 per month in Cupertino, CA and $3,959 in Fredericksburg, VA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Cupertino, CA and Fredericksburg, VA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fredericksburg, VA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Interestingly, groceries are about 24% cheaper in Cupertino, CA β one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both β monthly costs hit $3,204 in Cupertino, CA and $2,639 in Fredericksburg, VA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should families live: Cupertino, CA or Fredericksburg, VA?
Families tend to lean toward Fredericksburg, VA β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Cupertino, CA or Fredericksburg, VA safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Cupertino, CA and Fredericksburg, VA?
If budget matters most, go with Fredericksburg, VA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cupertino, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Cupertino, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared