Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose, CA and Santa Clara, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose, CA and Santa Clara, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: San Jose, CA is 8% more expensive than Santa Clara, CA without rent, and 9.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: San Jose, CA is 10.3% more expensive than Santa Clara, CA without rent, and 6.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.46 $20.46
$25.06 $25.06
-18.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.2 $98.2
$111 $111
-11.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.63 $11.63
$13.77 $13.77
-15.54%
Cappuccino
$5.78 $5.78
$5.86 $5.86
-1.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 $3.18
$3.27 $3.27
-2.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.55 $2.55
-3.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.03 $9.03
$9.05 $9.05
-0.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.84 $10.84
$9.18 $9.18
18.08%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.47 $1.47
-
White Bread (500g)
$4.95 $4.95
$4.92 $4.92
0.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$3.12 $3.12
6.41%
Eggs
$4.97 $4.97
$5.45 $5.45
-8.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.85 $20.85
$21.51 $21.51
-3.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.57 $15.57
$14.77 $14.77
5.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.57 $22.57
$22.67 $22.67
-0.44%
Apples (1kg)
$6.31 $6.31
$6.01 $6.01
4.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.94 $2.94
-13.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$5.02 $5.02
-3.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.78 $6.78
$6.54 $6.54
3.67%
Potato (1kg)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.55 $3.55
0.85%
Onion (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$3.83 $3.83
15.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.80 $2.80
4.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.82 $2.82
1.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.34 $11.34
$11.30 $11.30
0.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$14.74 $14.74
2.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.25 $2.25
5.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$3.30 $3.30
-0.91%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.44 $2.44
$3.07 $3.07
-20.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.0 $89.0
$69.1 $69.1
28.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.46 $3.46
$4.11 $4.11
-15.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.86 $1.86
-2.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.45 $30.45
$29.59 $29.59
2.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.28 $1.28
-0.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K $30.0K
$29.7K $29.7K
1.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$26.2K $26.2K
3.26%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$290 $290
$223 $223
29.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.20 $48.20
$48.73 $48.73
-1.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3 $68.3
$67.4 $67.4
1.44%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$122 $122
$99.9 $99.9
22.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.41 $30.41
$12.36 $12.36
146.04%
Cinema Ticket
$15.61 $15.61
$17.02 $17.02
-8.28%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,005 $2,005
$1,933 $1,933
3.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.1K $26.1K
0.96%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3 $53.3
$56.7 $56.7
-6.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.94 $43.94
$45.04 $45.04
-2.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.1 $88.1
$87.4 $87.4
0.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$134 $134
3.55%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,000 $3,000
$3,033 $3,033
-1.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,714 $2,714
$2,381 $2,381
13.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,304 $5,304
$4,191 $4,191
26.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,494 $4,494
$4,332 $4,332
3.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,167 $9,167
$8,766 $8,766
4.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,873 $9,873
$9,140 $9,140
8.01%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,723 $5,723
$7,954 $7,954
-28.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
6.51
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Jose, CA: April 12, 2026

Last update for Santa Clara, CA: April 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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