Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerville, MA and Redwood City, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Somerville, MA and Redwood City, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,338 in Somerville, MA versus $4,123 in Redwood City, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,301 in Somerville, MA versus $6,195 in Redwood City, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,264 in Somerville, MA versus $8,268 in Redwood City, CA.

Living in Somerville, MA is roughly 5% more expensive than in Redwood City, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Somerville, MA 217% above, Redwood City, CA 201% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$25.05 $25.05

1.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.6 $94.6

$109 $109

-13.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.59 $13.59

$13.28 $13.28

2.33%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.58 $5.58

-1.61%

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

$2.96 $2.96

$3.17 $3.17

-6.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.28 $2.28

1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$7.91 $7.91

0.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.94 $8.94

$8.96 $8.96

-0.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.52 $1.52

-30.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$5.19 $5.19

-21.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$4.93 $4.93

9.94%

Eggs

$4.78 $4.78

$7.56 $7.56

-36.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.99 $14.99

$15.34 $15.34

-2.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.19 $14.19

$10.56 $10.56

34.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.70 $17.70

$19.70 $19.70

-10.15%

Apples (1kg)

$6.78 $6.78

$6.13 $6.13

10.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.89 $2.89

-33.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$4.42 $4.42

29.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.72 $6.72

$6.49 $6.49

3.54%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$3.02 $3.02

-28.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$3.78 $3.78

-40.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.84 $2.84

1.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.71 $2.71

4.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.49 $13.49

$11.89 $11.89

13.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.96 $15.96

$20.32 $20.32

-21.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.67 $2.67

-19.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.54 $3.54

14.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 $2.29

$4.70 $4.70

-51.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.3 $91.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 $2.58

$4.05 $4.05

-36.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.23 $1.23

39.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.96 $27.96

$39.52 $39.52

-29.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.43 $1.43

-29.37%

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

$36.9K $36.9K

-0.13%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.2K $26.2K

1.10%

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

$260 $260

$238 $238

9.25%

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

$76.2 $76.2

$53.2 $53.2

43.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.4 $76.4

$69.4 $69.4

10.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 $105

$236 $236

-55.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.21 $30.21

Cinema Ticket

$15.70 $15.70

$17.94 $17.94

-12.49%

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

$1,804 $1,804

$2,854 $2,854

-36.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$43.2K $43.2K

-31.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.50 $48.50

$44.29 $44.29

9.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.89 $38.89

$24.99 $24.99

55.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$98.5 $98.5

3.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 $160

$117 $117

36.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,927 $2,927

$4,232 $4,232

-30.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 $2,647

$2,483 $2,483

6.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,610 $4,610

$5,740 $5,740

-19.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,419 $4,419

$4,574 $4,574

-3.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,595 $7,595

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,581 $5,581

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,268 $5,268

$8,169 $8,169

-35.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

6.46

-2.79%

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

Last update for Somerville, MA: September 15, 2026

Last update for Redwood City, CA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,927 in Somerville, MA and $4,232 in Redwood City, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Redwood City, CA pays 55% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $95.0 in Somerville, MA vs $109 in Redwood City, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $470 vs $495 per month, with Somerville, MA cheaper across the board.

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

Somerville, MA vs Redwood City, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Somerville, MA and Redwood City, CA differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($4,338 vs $4,123 including rent). Redwood City, CA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 55% lower in Redwood City, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,927 in Somerville, MA versus $4,232 in Redwood City, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,804 in Somerville, MA versus $2,854 in Redwood City, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Redwood City, CA – a meal for two runs $109 versus $95.0 in Somerville, MA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $5,000. Redwood City, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Somerville, MA and Redwood City, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Redwood City, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Somerville, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.