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

🙂 Solo nomad: San Mateo, CA is 14.6% cheaper than San Diego, CA without rent, and 12.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Mateo, CA is 6.6% more expensive than San Diego, CA without rent, and 16.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.55 $20.55

$22.95 $22.95

-10.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.3 $65.3

$99.8 $99.8

-34.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.69 $11.69

$14.8 $14.8

-21.01%

Cappuccino

$5.06 $5.06

$6.07 $6.07

-16.64%

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

$3.17 $3.17

$3.08 $3.08

2.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.59 $2.59

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.97 $6.97

$7.88 $7.88

-11.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.85 $9.85

$8.95 $8.95

10.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.26 $1.26

18.25%

White Bread (500g)

$4.96 $4.96

$4.5 $4.5

10.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$4.42 $4.42

-24.89%

Eggs

$4.78 $4.78

$5.04 $5.04

-5.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.61 $14.61

$13.66 $13.66

6.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.34 $15.34

$12.77 $12.77

20.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.18 $22.18

$18.5 $18.5

19.89%

Apples (1kg)

$6 $6

$4.6 $4.6

30.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.71 $1.71

27.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$5 $5

$3.92 $3.92

27.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$4.73 $4.73

36.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.6 $3.6

$2.98 $2.98

20.81%

Onion (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$2.47 $2.47

80.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.27 $2.27

21.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.5 $2.5

9.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.16 $11.16

$12.2 $12.2

-8.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 $13.76

$15.29 $15.29

-10.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.75 $1.75

1.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.54 $2.54

35.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.56 $2.56

70.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.5 $66.5

$72.1 $72.1

-7.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.97 $2.97

19.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.07 $2.07

-6.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.31 $30.31

$27.69 $27.69

9.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.26 $1.26

-1.59%

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

$30K $30K

$30.7K $30.7K

-2.44%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.6K $26.6K

-1.28%

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

$257 $257

$275 $275

-6.36%

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

$47.84 $47.84

$67 $67

-28.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 $63.5

$79.1 $79.1

-19.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.4 $94.4

$66.6 $66.6

41.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.66 $24.66

Cinema Ticket

$15.8 $15.8

$15.76 $15.76

0.25%

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

$1,987 $1,987

$1,625 $1,625

22.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26K $26K

$28.6K $28.6K

-9.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 $53.8

$58.1 $58.1

-7.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.65 $29.65

$58.8 $58.8

-49.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$98 $98

-11.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$116 $116

7.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,795 $2,795

$2,808 $2,808

-0.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,869 $2,869

$2,412 $2,412

18.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,762 $5,762

$5,005 $5,005

15.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,478 $5,478

$4,128 $4,128

32.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,115 $3,115

$9,534 $9,534

-67.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,308 $2,308

$6,940 $6,940

-66.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,443 $7,443

$5,341 $5,341

39.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.39

-1.10%

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 San Diego, CA: October 29, 2025

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