Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, NJ and San Diego, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Newark, NJ and San Diego, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,152 in Newark, NJ versus $3,998 in San Diego, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,546 in Newark, NJ versus $5,850 in San Diego, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,940 in Newark, NJ versus $7,703 in San Diego, CA.

Living in Newark, NJ costs roughly 21% less than in San Diego, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Newark, NJ 135% above, San Diego, CA 198% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.84 $19.84

$23.34 $23.34

-15.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.3 $89.3

$102 $102

-12.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.95 $11.95

$14.94 $14.94

-20.01%

Cappuccino

$4.87 $4.87

$5.98 $5.98

-18.56%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$3.05 $3.05

-11.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.49 $2.49

-18.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.11 $6.11

$8.21 $8.21

-25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$9.12 $9.12

-25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.25 $1.25

13.60%

White Bread (500g)

$4.42 $4.42

$4.35 $4.35

1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.30 $8.30

$4.35 $4.35

90.80%

Eggs

$5.82 $5.82

$5.23 $5.23

11.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.71 $13.71

10.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$12.91 $12.91

27.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.27 $21.27

$18.80 $18.80

13.14%

Apples (1kg)

$7.72 $7.72

$4.75 $4.75

62.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.73 $1.73

47.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$4.04 $4.04

42.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.54 $6.54

$4.72 $4.72

38.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$3.08 $3.08

18.83%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.48 $2.48

57.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.19 $2.19

36.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.47 $2.47

0.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.08 $13.08

$12.11 $12.11

8.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.82 $19.82

$15.16 $15.16

30.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.78 $1.78

15.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.44 $2.44

56.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$6.18 $6.18

$2.56 $2.56

141.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.8 $55.8

$73.3 $73.3

-23.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.94 $2.94

1.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.03 $2.03

-33.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.70 $21.70

$27.44 $27.44

-20.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.30 $1.30

-33.08%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$31.2K $31.2K

-3.92%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.7K $26.7K

-0.66%

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

$269 $269

$274 $274

-1.83%

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

$63.7 $63.7

$68.6 $68.6

-7.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.4 $75.4

$79.0 $79.0

-4.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.43 $29.43

$68.8 $68.8

-57.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.30 $17.30

$25.18 $25.18

-31.29%

Cinema Ticket

$14.86 $14.86

$15.78 $15.78

-5.83%

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

$2,095 $2,095

$1,608 $1,608

30.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.5K $43.5K

$28.3K $28.3K

54.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$57.9 $57.9

-10.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.09 $42.09

$57.5 $57.5

-26.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$101 $101

9.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$114 $114

50.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,358 $2,358

$2,765 $2,765

-14.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 $1,538

$2,369 $2,369

-35.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,295 $3,295

$5,023 $5,023

-34.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,563 $2,563

$4,070 $4,070

-37.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,607 $5,607

$8,572 $8,572

-34.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,652 $5,652

$6,933 $6,933

-18.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,510 $3,510

$5,236 $5,236

-32.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.63

6.39

3.76%

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

Last update for Newark, NJ: April 21, 2026

Last update for San Diego, CA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,358 in Newark, NJ and $2,765 in San Diego, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Diego, CA pays 49% 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: $89 in Newark, NJ vs $102 in San Diego, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $534 vs $427, 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

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

Newark, NJ is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, San Diego, CA earns 49% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,358 in Newark, NJ versus $2,765 in San Diego, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Newark, NJ runs roughly 31% less than in San Diego, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $2,095 in Newark, NJ versus $1,608 in San Diego, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Newark, NJ is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Newark, NJ is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in San Diego, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Newark, 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 Newark, NJ gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in San Diego, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.