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

😐 Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 17.1% more expensive than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 10.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 6.2% cheaper than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 13.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.95 $22.95

$20.55 $20.55

11.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.8 $99.8

$65.3 $65.3

52.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.8 $14.8

$11.69 $11.69

26.60%

Cappuccino

$6.07 $6.07

$5.06 $5.06

19.96%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.17 $3.17

-2.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.45 $2.45

5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.97 $6.97

13.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.95 $8.95

$9.85 $9.85

-9.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.49 $1.49

-15.44%

White Bread (500g)

$4.5 $4.5

$4.96 $4.96

-9.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$3.32 $3.32

33.13%

Eggs

$5.04 $5.04

$4.78 $4.78

5.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.66 $13.66

$14.61 $14.61

-6.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.77 $12.77

$15.34 $15.34

-16.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.5 $18.5

$22.18 $22.18

-16.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.6 $4.6

$6 $6

-23.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.18 $2.18

-21.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$5 $5

-21.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$6.47 $6.47

-26.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.6 $3.6

-17.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$4.45 $4.45

-44.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.75 $2.75

-17.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.74 $2.74

-8.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.2 $12.2

$11.16 $11.16

9.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.29 $15.29

$13.76 $13.76

11.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.77 $1.77

-1.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.43 $3.43

-25.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 $2.56

$4.37 $4.37

-41.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 $72.1

$66.5 $66.5

8.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.54 $3.54

-16.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.93 $1.93

7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.69 $27.69

$30.31 $30.31

-8.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.24 $1.24

1.61%

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

$30.7K $30.7K

$30K $30K

2.50%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.30%

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

$275 $275

$257 $257

6.80%

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

$67 $67

$47.84 $47.84

40.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.1 $79.1

$63.5 $63.5

24.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.6 $66.6

$94.4 $94.4

-29.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.66 $24.66

Cinema Ticket

$15.76 $15.76

$15.8 $15.8

-0.25%

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

$1,625 $1,625

$1,987 $1,987

-18.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.6K $28.6K

$26K $26K

10.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 $58.1

$53.8 $53.8

8.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.8 $58.8

$29.65 $29.65

98.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98 $98

$86.8 $86.8

12.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$125 $125

-7.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,808 $2,808

$2,795 $2,795

0.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,412 $2,412

$2,869 $2,869

-15.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,005 $5,005

$5,762 $5,762

-13.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,128 $4,128

$5,478 $5,478

-24.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,534 $9,534

$3,115 $3,115

206.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,940 $6,940

$2,308 $2,308

200.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,341 $5,341

$7,443 $7,443

-28.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.32

1.11%

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

Last update for San Diego, CA: October 29, 2025

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

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