Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Boulder, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Boulder, CO

😐 Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 11.6% more expensive than Boulder, CO without rent, and 15.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 12.8% more expensive than Boulder, CO without rent, and 21.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.14 $23.14

$19.74 $19.74

17.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.1 $98.1

$69.3 $69.3

41.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.05 $15.05

$10.98 $10.98

37.07%

Cappuccino

$5.84 $5.84

$5.76 $5.76

1.39%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$3.29 $3.29

-6.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.31 $2.31

6.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.82 $7.82

$6.35 $6.35

23.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.92 $8.92

$6.82 $6.82

30.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.03 $1.03

20.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.54 $3.54

22.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.5 $4.5

$4.46 $4.46

0.90%

Eggs

$5.17 $5.17

$5.44 $5.44

-4.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 $13.62

$13.14 $13.14

3.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.45 $12.45

$14.65 $14.65

-15.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$17 $17

10.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.36 $4.36

3.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.52 $1.52

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.82 $3.82

2.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 $4.82

$4.85 $4.85

-0.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.67 $2.67

10.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.73 $2.73

-9.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.31 $2.31

-1.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.25 $2.25

7.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.18 $12.18

$10.03 $10.03

21.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 $14.88

$16.93 $16.93

-12.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.91 $1.91

-7.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$3.73 $3.73

-34.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.71 $2.71

-8.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.8 $71.8

$148 $148

-51.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.45 $2.45

20.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.43 $1.43

45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.64 $27.64

$24.44 $24.44

13.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.8 $0.8

55.00%

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

$31.1K $31.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

16.27%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.44%

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

$271 $271

$194 $194

39.57%

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

$69 $69

$59.4 $59.4

16.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.7 $78.7

$70.2 $70.2

12.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 $67.8

$79.9 $79.9

-15.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.55 $24.55

$20.18 $20.18

21.66%

Cinema Ticket

$15.69 $15.69

$16.81 $16.81

-6.66%

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

$1,613 $1,613

$1,451 $1,451

11.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.3K $28.3K

$30.7K $30.7K

-8.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 $59.8

$72.3 $72.3

-17.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.6 $58.6

$37.35 $37.35

56.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 $99.7

$88.2 $88.2

13.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$102 $102

13.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,798 $2,798

$2,163 $2,163

29.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,358 $2,358

$1,855 $1,855

27.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,018 $5,018

$4,077 $4,077

23.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,152 $4,152

$2,792 $2,792

48.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,080 $9,080

$4,697 $4,697

93.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,024 $7,024

$4,418 $4,418

59.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,395 $5,395

$5,166 $5,166

4.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.42

-0.47%

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

Last update for San Diego, CA: November 23, 2025

Last update for Boulder, CO: November 24, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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