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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,446 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $3,282 in Sacramento, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,681 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $4,811 in Sacramento, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,916 per month in San Mateo, CA vs $6,341 in Sacramento, CA, rent included.

San Mateo, CA costs about 35% more than Sacramento, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both San Mateo, CA and Sacramento, CA sit above the global median – San Mateo, CA by 233%, Sacramento, CA by 146%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.87 $20.87

$20.40 $20.40

2.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.0 $64.0

$76.3 $76.3

-16.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.33 $11.33

$10.44 $10.44

8.52%

Cappuccino

$5.05 $5.05

$5.69 $5.69

-11.25%

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

$3.20 $3.20

$2.62 $2.62

22.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.02 $2.02

16.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.89 $6.89

$8.13 $8.13

-15.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.11 $10.11

$7.94 $7.94

27.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.23 $1.23

19.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.25 $4.25

16.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$5.52 $5.52

-41.67%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$4.55 $4.55

4.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.75 $14.75

$15.68 $15.68

-5.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.60 $15.60

$14.77 $14.77

5.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.41 $22.41

$18.92 $18.92

18.45%

Apples (1kg)

$6.20 $6.20

$5.17 $5.17

19.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.08 $2.08

2.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$4.11 $4.11

16.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.72 $6.72

$6.95 $6.95

-3.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.73 $3.73

-3.49%

Onion (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$4.92 $4.92

-12.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.80 $2.80

0.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.47 $2.47

17.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.27 $11.27

$11.68 $11.68

-3.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.46 $14.46

$15.55 $15.55

-7.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.14 $2.14

-18.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.92 $2.92

17.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.57 $2.57

72.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.3 $65.3

$98.2 $98.2

-33.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$3.91 $3.91

-8.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.90 $1.90

2.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.59 $30.59

$27.75 $27.75

10.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.29 $1.29

-0.78%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$30.4K $30.4K

-2.33%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$28.0K $28.0K

-8.51%

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

$258 $258

$328 $328

-21.38%

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

$49.19 $49.19

$59.5 $59.5

-17.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.7 $63.7

$76.2 $76.2

-16.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.9 $94.9

$44.30 $44.30

114.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.33 $30.33

Cinema Ticket

$15.68 $15.68

$13.78 $13.78

13.79%

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

$1,989 $1,989

$1,730 $1,730

15.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.5K $25.5K

$27.7K $27.7K

-7.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$58.9 $58.9

-9.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.19 $30.19

$63.5 $63.5

-52.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 $88.6

$94.0 $94.0

-5.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 $123

$125 $125

-1.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,778 $2,778

$2,089 $2,089

33.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,850 $2,850

$1,730 $1,730

64.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,977 $5,977

$3,464 $3,464

72.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,335 $5,335

$2,865 $2,865

86.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.7K $13.7K

$4,865 $4,865

182.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,698 $8,698

$3,474 $3,474

150.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,452 $7,452

$4,589 $4,589

62.38%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sacramento, CA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,778 in San Mateo, CA versus $2,089 in Sacramento, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 62% higher in San Mateo, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in San Mateo, CA versus $76.0 in Sacramento, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $492 in San Mateo, CA vs $472 in Sacramento, CA – so Sacramento, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

San Mateo, CA vs Sacramento, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Mateo, CA is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,669 per month in San Mateo, CA and $4,922 in Sacramento, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sacramento, CA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 50% less in Sacramento, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,989 per month in San Mateo, CA and $1,730 in Sacramento, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,446 in San Mateo, CA and $3,282 in Sacramento, CA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Sacramento, CA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sacramento, CA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Mateo, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.