Cost of Living Comparison Between Sacramento, CA and San Mateo, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Sacramento, CA and San Mateo, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Sacramento, CA is 14.7% more expensive than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 24.5% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Sacramento, CA is 9.4% cheaper than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 27.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Sacramento, CA
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.74 $19.74
$20.55 $20.55
-3.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.8 $76.8
$65.3 $65.3
17.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 $10.41
$11.69 $11.69
-10.95%
Cappuccino
$5.66 $5.66
$5.06 $5.06
11.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$3.17 $3.17
-16.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.45 $2.45
-16.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.15 $8.15
$6.97 $6.97
16.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.2 $8.2
$9.85 $9.85
-16.75%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Sacramento, CA
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.49 $1.49
-18.12%
White Bread (500g)
$4.26 $4.26
$4.96 $4.96
-14.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.5 $5.5
$3.32 $3.32
65.66%
Eggs
$4.57 $4.57
$4.78 $4.78
-4.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.63 $15.63
$14.61 $14.61
6.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.09 $15.09
$15.34 $15.34
-1.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.84 $18.84
$22.18 $22.18
-15.06%
Apples (1kg)
$5.16 $5.16
$6 $6
-14.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.18 $2.18
-6.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$5 $5
-16.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.83 $6.83
$6.47 $6.47
5.56%
Potato (1kg)
$3.76 $3.76
$3.6 $3.6
4.44%
Onion (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$4.45 $4.45
5.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.75 $2.75
1.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.4 $2.4
$2.74 $2.74
-12.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.54 $11.54
$11.16 $11.16
3.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.02 $17.02
$13.76 $13.76
23.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.77 $1.77
19.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$3.43 $3.43
-14.29%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Sacramento, CA
San Mateo, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.51 $2.51
$4.37 $4.37
-42.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$66.5 $66.5
51.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.05 $4.05
$3.54 $3.54
14.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.93 $1.93
-1.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.46 $27.46
$30.31 $30.31
-9.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.24 $1.24
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K $30.3K
$30K $30K
1.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
7.71%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sacramento, CA
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$333 $333
$257 $257
29.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.1 $59.1
$47.84 $47.84
23.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.1 $74.1
$63.5 $63.5
16.76%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Sacramento, CA
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.28 $44.28
$94.4 $94.4
-53.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.6 $30.6
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.21 $14.21
$15.8 $15.8
-10.06%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Sacramento, CA
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,725 $1,725
$1,987 $1,987
-13.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.9K $27.9K
$26K $26K
7.14%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Sacramento, CA
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 $58.8
$53.8 $53.8
9.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.7 $64.7
$29.65 $29.65
118.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.1 $93.1
$86.8 $86.8
7.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 $128
$125 $125
2.64%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Sacramento, CA
San Mateo, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,082 $2,082
$2,795 $2,795
-25.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,692 $1,692
$2,869 $2,869
-41.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,525 $3,525
$5,762 $5,762
-38.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,894 $2,894
$5,478 $5,478
-47.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,985 $4,985
$3,115 $3,115
60.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,001 $4,001
$2,308 $2,308
73.37%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Sacramento, CA
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,409 $4,409
$7,443 $7,443
-40.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
6.32
3.96%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sacramento, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for San Mateo, CA: October 28, 2025

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