Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Newark, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Newark, NJ

🙂 Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 3.4% cheaper than Newark, NJ without rent, and 22.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 13.7% more expensive than Newark, NJ without rent, and 25.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.31 $23.31

$20.04 $20.04

16.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$90.4 $90.4

8.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.92 $14.92

$11.92 $11.92

25.17%

Cappuccino

$5.94 $5.94

$4.77 $4.77

24.53%

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

$3.09 $3.09

$2.74 $2.74

12.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2 $2

25.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$6.06 $6.06

32.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.78 $8.78

$6.99 $6.99

25.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.36 $1.36

-11.03%

White Bread (500g)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.42 $4.42

1.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$8.29 $8.29

-45.84%

Eggs

$5.3 $5.3

$5.84 $5.84

-9.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.48 $13.48

$14.98 $14.98

-10.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.59 $12.59

$16.7 $16.7

-24.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.82 $18.82

$21.09 $21.09

-10.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.7 $4.7

$7.35 $7.35

-36.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$2.46 $2.46

-30.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$5.65 $5.65

-27.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$6.5 $6.5

-25.23%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$3.71 $3.71

-17.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$4.09 $4.09

-39.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.08 $3.08

-28.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.47 $2.47

-4.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.06 $12.06

$12.92 $12.92

-6.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 $14.89

$18.35 $18.35

-18.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.93 $1.93

-5.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.82 $3.82

-32.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$6.01 $6.01

-57.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.2 $72.2

$54 $54

33.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.94 $2.94

2.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.41 $1.41

43.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.53 $27.53

$21.94 $21.94

25.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.3 $1.3

$0.92 $0.92

41.30%

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

$31.5K $31.5K

$29.2K $29.2K

7.84%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$26.7K $26.7K

2.73%

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

$273 $273

$268 $268

1.83%

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

$68.2 $68.2

$63 $63

8.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79 $79

$76.5 $76.5

3.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.9 $66.9

$30.59 $30.59

118.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.88 $24.88

$17.76 $17.76

40.09%

Cinema Ticket

$16.12 $16.12

$15.26 $15.26

5.64%

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

$1,650 $1,650

$2,046 $2,046

-19.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.8K $28.8K

$42.9K $42.9K

-32.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 $59.2

$52.8 $52.8

12.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 $57.9

$41.18 $41.18

40.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$109 $109

-7.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$168 $168

-30.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,790 $2,790

$2,320 $2,320

20.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,397 $2,397

$1,547 $1,547

54.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,934 $4,934

$3,273 $3,273

50.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,077 $4,077

$2,555 $2,555

59.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,248 $9,248

$5,698 $5,698

62.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,978 $6,978

$5,589 $5,589

24.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,519 $5,519

$3,454 $3,454

59.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.63

-3.62%

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

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

Last update for Newark, NJ: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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