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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Mateo, CA is 12.8% cheaper than Sacramento, CA without rent, and 32.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Mateo, CA is 10.4% more expensive than Sacramento, CA without rent, and 38.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.55 $20.55

$19.74 $19.74

4.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.3 $65.3

$76.8 $76.8

-14.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.69 $11.69

$10.41 $10.41

12.30%

Cappuccino

$5.06 $5.06

$5.66 $5.66

-10.60%

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

$3.17 $3.17

$2.65 $2.65

19.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.05 $2.05

19.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.97 $6.97

$8.15 $8.15

-14.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.85 $9.85

$8.2 $8.2

20.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.22 $1.22

22.13%

White Bread (500g)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.26 $4.26

16.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.5 $5.5

-39.64%

Eggs

$4.78 $4.78

$4.57 $4.57

4.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$15.63 $15.63

-6.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.34 $15.34

$15.09 $15.09

1.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.18 $22.18

$18.84 $18.84

17.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6 $6

$5.16 $5.16

16.28%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.03 $2.03

7.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$5 $5

$4.18 $4.18

19.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$6.83 $6.83

-5.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.6 $3.6

$3.76 $3.76

-4.26%

Onion (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.68 $4.68

-4.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.78 $2.78

-1.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.4 $2.4

14.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.16 $11.16

$11.54 $11.54

-3.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 $13.76

$17.02 $17.02

-19.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.11 $2.11

-16.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.94 $2.94

16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.51 $2.51

74.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.5 $66.5

$101 $101

-33.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$4.05 $4.05

-12.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.91 $1.91

1.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.31 $30.31

$27.46 $27.46

10.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

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

$30K $30K

$30.3K $30.3K

-1.14%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$28.3K $28.3K

-7.16%

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

$257 $257

$333 $333

-22.63%

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

$47.84 $47.84

$59.1 $59.1

-19.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$74.1 $74.1

-14.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.4 $94.4

$44.28 $44.28

113.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.6 $30.6

Cinema Ticket

$15.8 $15.8

$14.21 $14.21

11.19%

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

$1,987 $1,987

$1,725 $1,725

15.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26K $26K

$27.9K $27.9K

-6.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 $53.8

$58.8 $58.8

-8.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.65 $29.65

$64.7 $64.7

-54.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$93.1 $93.1

-6.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$128 $128

-2.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,082 $2,082

34.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,869 $2,869

$1,692 $1,692

69.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,762 $5,762

$3,525 $3,525

63.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,478 $5,478

$2,894 $2,894

89.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,115 $3,115

$4,985 $4,985

-37.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,308 $2,308

$4,001 $4,001

-42.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,443 $7,443

$4,409 $4,409

68.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.57

-3.81%

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

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

Last update for Sacramento, CA: October 29, 2025

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