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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Santa Clara, CA is 0.6% more expensive than San Jose, CA without rent, and 9% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Santa Clara, CA is 11.8% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 1.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Santa Clara, CA
San Jose, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.75 $24.75
$20.3 $20.3
21.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112 $112
$100 $100
11.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.76 $13.76
$11.54 $11.54
19.24%
Cappuccino
$6.07 $6.07
$5.79 $5.79
4.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.22 $3.22
5.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.47 $2.47
3.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.76 $8.76
$8.8 $8.8
-0.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.93 $8.93
$10.92 $10.92
-18.22%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Santa Clara, CA
San Jose, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.46 $1.46
-1.37%
White Bread (500g)
$4.91 $4.91
$4.94 $4.94
-0.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$3.19 $3.19
-4.08%
Eggs
$5.46 $5.46
$4.85 $4.85
12.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.17 $21.17
$21.13 $21.13
0.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.81 $14.81
$15.17 $15.17
-2.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.98 $22.98
$22.45 $22.45
2.36%
Apples (1kg)
$6.22 $6.22
$6.08 $6.08
2.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.46 $2.46
14.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$4.79 $4.79
3.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.79 $6.79
$6.75 $6.75
0.59%
Potato (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.44 $3.44
1.45%
Onion (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$4.28 $4.28
-7.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.9 $2.9
$2.97 $2.97
-2.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.77 $2.77
2.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.22 $11.22
$11.32 $11.32
-0.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.02 $12.02
$14.95 $14.95
-19.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.35 $2.35
-3.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 $3.2
$3.35 $3.35
-4.48%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Santa Clara, CA
San Jose, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.53 $2.53
15.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.7 $68.7
$89 $89
-22.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 $4.23
$3.42 $3.42
23.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.89 $1.89
3.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.74 $29.74
$29.82 $29.82
-0.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.31 $1.31
0.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$30.2K $30.2K
0.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$27K $27K
0.65%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Clara, CA
San Jose, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$224 $224
$292 $292
-23.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.72 $48.72
$49.13 $49.13
-0.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.1 $68.1
$67.9 $67.9
0.37%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Santa Clara, CA
San Jose, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.2 $98.2
$122 $122
-19.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.61 $12.61
$30.12 $30.12
-58.13%
Cinema Ticket
$16.92 $16.92
$15.45 $15.45
9.51%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Santa Clara, CA
San Jose, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,947 $1,947
$1,985 $1,985
-1.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.2K $26.2K
-0.43%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Santa Clara, CA
San Jose, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 $56.9
$52.5 $52.5
8.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.22 $44.22
$43.85 $43.85
0.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 $86.8
$89.8 $89.8
-3.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$138 $138
-2.61%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Santa Clara, CA
San Jose, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,997 $2,997
$3,022 $3,022
-0.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,366 $2,366
$2,672 $2,672
-11.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,299 $4,299
$5,283 $5,283
-18.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,314 $4,314
$4,622 $4,622
-6.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,748 $8,748
$10.6K $10.6K
-17.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,968 $8,968
$9,587 $9,587
-6.45%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Santa Clara, CA
San Jose, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$8,325 $8,325
$5,864 $5,864
41.97%
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 Santa Clara, CA: October 26, 2025

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

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