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

😐 Solo nomad: San Rafael, CA is 1% more expensive than San Jose, CA without rent, and 1.3% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: San Rafael, CA is 14.7% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 18.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.73 $22.73

$20.3 $20.3

11.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.9 $64.9

$100 $100

-35.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.05 $11.05

$11.54 $11.54

-4.25%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$5.79 $5.79

-0.35%

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

$2.6 $2.6

$3.22 $3.22

-19.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.47 $2.47

3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$8.8 $8.8

-32.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.47 $9.47

$10.92 $10.92

-13.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.46 $1.46

-13.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.94 $4.94

-19.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.91 $6.91

$3.19 $3.19

116.61%

Eggs

$4.54 $4.54

$4.85 $4.85

-6.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.52 $15.52

$21.13 $21.13

-26.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.85 $12.85

$15.17 $15.17

-15.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.39 $18.39

$22.45 $22.45

-18.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$6.08 $6.08

-18.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.46 $2.46

18.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$4.79 $4.79

29.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.42 $8.42

$6.75 $6.75

24.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$3.44 $3.44

9.30%

Onion (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.28 $4.28

-11.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.97 $2.97

-15.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.77 $2.77

6.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.81 $10.81

$11.32 $11.32

-4.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 $12.59

$14.95 $14.95

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.1 $2.1

$2.35 $2.35

-10.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.35 $3.35

4.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.53 $2.53

-39.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.14 $30.14

$89 $89

-66.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.42 $3.42

4.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.89 $1.89

-12.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.66 $28.66

$29.82 $29.82

-3.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.31 $1.31

-6.11%

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

$27K $27K

$30.2K $30.2K

-10.67%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$27K $27K

0.28%

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

$187 $187

$292 $292

-36.19%

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

$51.3 $51.3

$49.13 $49.13

4.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.6 $61.6

$67.9 $67.9

-9.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$247 $247

$122 $122

102.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.9 $39.9

$30.12 $30.12

32.47%

Cinema Ticket

$14.71 $14.71

$15.45 $15.45

-4.79%

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

$1,967 $1,967

$1,985 $1,985

-0.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-9.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.12 $41.12

$52.5 $52.5

-21.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.89 $37.89

$43.85 $43.85

-13.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$89.8 $89.8

12.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$138 $138

-11.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,340 $3,340

$3,022 $3,022

10.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,833 $2,833

$2,672 $2,672

6.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,080 $4,080

$5,283 $5,283

-22.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,280 $3,280

$4,622 $4,622

-29.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,615 $7,615

$10.6K $10.6K

-27.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,279 $5,279

$9,587 $9,587

-44.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,319 $5,319

$5,864 $5,864

-9.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

6.51

-2.92%

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

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

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

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