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

😐 Solo nomad: Oakland, CA is 3.4% more expensive than Arlington, VA without rent, and 6% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Oakland, CA is 9.1% more expensive than Arlington, VA without rent, and 7.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.9 $29.9

$24.54 $24.54

21.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 $145

$88.5 $88.5

63.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.38 $14.38

$11.84 $11.84

21.45%

Cappuccino

$4.79 $4.79

$5.41 $5.41

-11.46%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$2.93 $2.93

-9.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.5 $2.5

-14.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$8.02 $8.02

0.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$8.82 $8.82

-7.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.24 $1.24

14.52%

White Bread (500g)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.1 $4.1

22.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.15 $6.15

$6.81 $6.81

-9.69%

Eggs

$6.86 $6.86

$4.32 $4.32

58.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.44 $20.44

$17.79 $17.79

14.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.75 $14.75

0.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.6 $16.6

$21.38 $21.38

-22.36%

Apples (1kg)

$7.69 $7.69

$6.26 $6.26

22.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.06 $2.06

8.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$5.22 $5.22

21.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$5.71 $5.71

6.13%

Potato (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.44 $3.44

27.33%

Onion (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.39 $3.39

-0.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.65 $2.65

-17.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.45 $2.45

26.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.08 $11.08

$12.3 $12.3

-9.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.2 $12.2

$17.17 $17.17

-28.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.03 $2.03

-15.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$4.29 $4.29

-6.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.43 $3.43

-9.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.1 $86.1

$125 $125

-31.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.6 $3.6

$3.02 $3.02

19.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.59 $1.59

53.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.3 $39.3

$21.75 $21.75

80.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.3 $1.3

$0.91 $0.91

42.86%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$29.6K $29.6K

-19.11%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26K $26K

0.17%

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

$278 $278

$205 $205

35.74%

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

$53.8 $53.8

$59.8 $59.8

-10.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.5 $72.5

$69.9 $69.9

3.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 $53.6

$76.7 $76.7

-30.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.83 $12.83

$23.96 $23.96

-46.45%

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$14.84 $14.84

-0.81%

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

$2,694 $2,694

$2,074 $2,074

29.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.9K $37.9K

$39.4K $39.4K

-3.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.2 $62.2

$55.9 $55.9

11.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.4 $60.4

$49.48 $49.48

22.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.5 $94.5

$92.6 $92.6

2.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$141 $141

-11.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 $1,935

$2,473 $2,473

-21.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,715 $1,715

$1,930 $1,930

-11.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,510 $4,510

$4,350 $4,350

3.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,602 $3,602

$3,575 $3,575

0.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,068 $7,068

$4,644 $4,644

52.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,087 $7,087

$4,073 $4,073

74.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,604 $5,604

$6,454 $6,454

-13.17%

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 Oakland, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Arlington, VA: October 28, 2025

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