Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose, CA and San Rafael, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose, CA and San Rafael, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: San Jose, CA is 1% cheaper than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 1.3% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Jose, CA is 17.2% more expensive than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 23.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.3 $20.3

$22.73 $22.73

-10.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$64.9 $64.9

54.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.54 $11.54

$11.05 $11.05

4.43%

Cappuccino

$5.79 $5.79

$5.77 $5.77

0.35%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$2.6 $2.6

23.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.56 $2.56

-3.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.8 $8.8

$5.94 $5.94

48.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.92 $10.92

$9.47 $9.47

15.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.27 $1.27

14.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.94 $4.94

$3.96 $3.96

24.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$6.91 $6.91

-53.84%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$4.54 $4.54

6.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.13 $21.13

$15.52 $15.52

36.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$12.85 $12.85

18.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.45 $22.45

$18.39 $18.39

22.08%

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$4.98 $4.98

22.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.91 $2.91

-15.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$6.18 $6.18

-22.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.75 $6.75

$8.42 $8.42

-19.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.76 $3.76

-8.51%

Onion (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.79 $3.79

12.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.5 $2.5

18.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.96 $2.96

-6.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.32 $11.32

$10.81 $10.81

4.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.95 $14.95

$12.59 $12.59

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.1 $2.1

11.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$3.49 $3.49

-4.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.53 $1.53

65.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$89 $89

$30.14 $30.14

195.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.59 $3.59

-4.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.65 $1.65

14.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.82 $29.82

$28.66 $28.66

4.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.23 $1.23

6.50%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$27K $27K

11.94%

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

$27K $27K

$27.1K $27.1K

-0.28%

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

$292 $292

$187 $187

56.71%

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

$49.13 $49.13

$51.3 $51.3

-4.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.9 $67.9

$61.6 $61.6

10.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$247 $247

-50.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.12 $30.12

$39.9 $39.9

-24.51%

Cinema Ticket

$15.45 $15.45

$14.71 $14.71

5.03%

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

$1,985 $1,985

$1,967 $1,967

0.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.2K $26.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

10.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 $52.5

$41.12 $41.12

27.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.85 $43.85

$37.89 $37.89

15.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.8 $89.8

$101 $101

-11.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$122 $122

13.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,022 $3,022

$3,340 $3,340

-9.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,672 $2,672

$2,833 $2,833

-5.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,283 $5,283

$4,080 $4,080

29.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,622 $4,622

$3,280 $3,280

40.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K $10.6K

$7,615 $7,615

38.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,587 $9,587

$5,279 $5,279

81.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,864 $5,864

$5,319 $5,319

10.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.32

3.01%

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

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

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

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