Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakland, CA and San Jose, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakland, CA and San Jose, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Oakland, CA is 1.5% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 23.7% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Oakland, CA is 6.1% more expensive than San Jose, CA without rent, and 9.2% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.88 $29.88

$20.71 $20.71

44.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$144 $144

$98.1 $98.1

47.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.58 $14.58

$11.68 $11.68

24.83%

Cappuccino

$4.77 $4.77

$5.97 $5.97

-20.10%

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

$2.56 $2.56

$3.36 $3.36

-23.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.45 $2.45

-11.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.24 $8.24

$9.02 $9.02

-8.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.08 $8.08

$11.03 $11.03

-26.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.49 $1.49

-0.67%

White Bread (500g)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.79 $4.79

5.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.34 $6.34

$3.19 $3.19

98.75%

Eggs

$6.56 $6.56

$4.83 $4.83

35.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.44 $20.44

$21.18 $21.18

-3.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$15.07 $15.07

-0.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.67 $16.67

$22.63 $22.63

-26.34%

Apples (1kg)

$7.9 $7.9

$6.31 $6.31

25.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.47 $2.47

-11.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$4.8 $4.8

29.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.2 $6.2

$6.72 $6.72

-7.74%

Potato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.47 $3.47

25.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.38 $4.38

-24.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.2 $2.2

$3.07 $3.07

-28.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3 $3

$2.8 $2.8

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.84 $10.84

$11.03 $11.03

-1.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.16 $12.16

$15.21 $15.21

-20.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.29 $2.29

-25.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.9 $3.9

$3.39 $3.39

15.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.52 $2.52

20.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.6 $83.6

$88.7 $88.7

-5.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.45 $3.45

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.92 $1.92

21.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.27 $39.27

$29.92 $29.92

31.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.27 $1.27

1.57%

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

$24K $24K

$29.8K $29.8K

-19.44%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$26.6K $26.6K

-2.11%

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

$279 $279

$288 $288

-3.35%

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

$53.9 $53.9

$48.7 $48.7

10.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.4 $70.4

$67.5 $67.5

4.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 $54.7

$125 $125

-56.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.82 $12.82

$30.14 $30.14

-57.47%

Cinema Ticket

$14.4 $14.4

$15.45 $15.45

-6.80%

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

$2,779 $2,779

$1,945 $1,945

42.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.6K $37.6K

$25.8K $25.8K

45.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.5 $64.5

$52.1 $52.1

23.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 $62.4

$44.6 $44.6

39.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.7 $92.7

$86.9 $86.9

6.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 $127

$136 $136

-6.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,933 $1,933

$2,989 $2,989

-35.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,726 $1,726

$2,692 $2,692

-35.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,529 $4,529

$5,278 $5,278

-14.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,600 $3,600

$4,591 $4,591

-21.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,995 $6,995

$10.3K $10.3K

-32.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,254 $7,254

$8,890 $8,890

-18.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,365 $5,365

$5,853 $5,853

-8.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.51

0.61%

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

Last update for Oakland, CA: November 23, 2025

Last update for San Jose, CA: November 22, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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