Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose, CA and Boston, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose, CA and Boston, MA

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose, CA is 1.3% cheaper than Boston, MA without rent, and 8.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Jose, CA is 2.6% cheaper than Boston, MA without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 $20.19

$25.26 $25.26

-20.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$126 $126

-19.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.34 $11.34

$11.15 $11.15

1.70%

Cappuccino

$5.7 $5.7

$5.47 $5.47

4.20%

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

$3.32 $3.32

$2.93 $2.93

13.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.41 $2.41

0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.07 $9.07

$8.02 $8.02

13.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.02 $11.02

$8.75 $8.75

25.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.3 $1.3

13.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.82 $4.82

$4.21 $4.21

14.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.2 $3.2

$6.3 $6.3

-49.21%

Eggs

$4.9 $4.9

$4.59 $4.59

6.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.5 $21.5

$16.78 $16.78

28.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.1 $15.1

$13.5 $13.5

11.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.78 $22.78

$20.48 $20.48

11.23%

Apples (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$5.84 $5.84

6.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.09 $2.09

22.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$6.44 $6.44

-26.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.81 $6.81

$7.93 $7.93

-14.12%

Potato (1kg)

$3.59 $3.59

$4.47 $4.47

-19.69%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.75 $3.75

13.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.72 $2.72

8.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.5 $2.5

15.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.31 $11.31

$13.41 $13.41

-15.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$17.04 $17.04

-13.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.3 $2.3

$2.82 $2.82

-18.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$5.67 $5.67

-39.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.46 $2.46

0.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.3 $88.3

$88.6 $88.6

-0.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.6 $3.6

$2.64 $2.64

36.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.77 $1.77

2.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.07 $30.07

$28.43 $28.43

5.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.95 $0.95

40.00%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

$30.6K $30.6K

-0.62%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$25.2K $25.2K

6.09%

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

$289 $289

$196 $196

47.24%

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

$49.28 $49.28

$58.3 $58.3

-15.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 $66.8

$76.7 $76.7

-12.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$80 $80

56.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.83 $30.83

$31.59 $31.59

-2.41%

Cinema Ticket

$15.8 $15.8

$15.32 $15.32

3.13%

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

$1,962 $1,962

$2,826 $2,826

-30.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.6K $25.6K

$27.7K $27.7K

-7.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$66.7 $66.7

-21.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.64 $43.64

$44.12 $44.12

-1.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.4 $87.4

$102 $102

-14.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$148 $148

-6.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,989 $2,989

$3,462 $3,462

-13.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,658 $2,658

$2,625 $2,625

1.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,168 $5,168

$6,097 $6,097

-15.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,636 $4,636

$4,025 $4,025

15.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.5K $10.5K

$8,979 $8,979

17.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,512 $9,512

$5,857 $5,857

62.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,810 $5,810

$6,098 $6,098

-4.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.43

1.24%

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

Last update for San Jose, CA: December 1, 2025

Last update for Boston, MA: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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