Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, MA and San Diego, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, MA and San Diego, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Salem, MA is 1.8% more expensive than San Diego, CA without rent, and 11.7% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Salem, MA is 2.1% cheaper than San Diego, CA without rent, and 18.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.71 $24.71

$23.31 $23.31

6.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.1 $99.1

$98.2 $98.2

0.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 $10.83

$14.92 $14.92

-27.41%

Cappuccino

$5.08 $5.08

$5.94 $5.94

-14.48%

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

$2.47 $2.47

$3.09 $3.09

-20.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.51 $2.51

-14.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.9 $7.9

$8.01 $8.01

-1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 $7.17

$8.78 $8.78

-18.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.21 $1.21

5.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.29 $4.29

$4.49 $4.49

-4.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.66 $8.66

$4.49 $4.49

92.87%

Eggs

$4.2 $4.2

$5.3 $5.3

-20.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.27 $14.27

$13.48 $13.48

5.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.3 $14.3

$12.59 $12.59

13.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 $8.64

$18.82 $18.82

-54.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.7 $4.7

-2.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.72 $1.72

-25.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$4.07 $4.07

-18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.7 $8.7

$4.86 $4.86

79.01%

Potato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.07 $3.07

42.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.46 $2.46

-4.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.21 $2.21

14.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.6 $3.6

$2.37 $2.37

51.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.71 $9.71

$12.06 $12.06

-19.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.2 $13.2

$14.89 $14.89

-11.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.83 $1.83

-3.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.12 $7.12

$2.56 $2.56

178.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.6 $55.6

$72.2 $72.2

-23.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.02 $3.02

17.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.02 $2.02

-20.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.73 $29.73

$27.53 $27.53

7.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.3 $1.3

-20.00%

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

$30K $30K

$31.5K $31.5K

-4.59%

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

$26K $26K

$27.4K $27.4K

-5.06%

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

$172 $172

$273 $273

-37.02%

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

$89.7 $89.7

$68.2 $68.2

31.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83 $83

$79 $79

5.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.17 $43.17

$66.9 $66.9

-35.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.88 $24.88

Cinema Ticket

$14.95 $14.95

$16.12 $16.12

-7.26%

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

$1,316 $1,316

$1,650 $1,650

-20.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$28.8K $28.8K

-16.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 $71.2

$59.2 $59.2

20.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.6 $57.6

$57.9 $57.9

-0.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 $95.8

$101 $101

-5.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$116 $116

-13.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,384 $2,384

$2,790 $2,790

-14.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,002 $2,002

$2,397 $2,397

-16.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,806 $3,806

$4,934 $4,934

-22.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,818 $2,818

$4,077 $4,077

-30.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,387 $5,387

$9,248 $9,248

-41.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,917 $4,917

$6,978 $6,978

-29.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$9,632 $9,632

$5,519 $5,519

74.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.39

1.88%

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

Last update for Salem, MA: December 1, 2025

Last update for San Diego, CA: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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