Cost of Living in San Jose, CA
| Cost of Living in San Jose, CA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 50% higher | 228% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 6% higher | 40% higher |
| Food | 1% higher | 11% higher |
| Healthcare | 6% lower | 10% higher |
| Transportation | 1% higher | 37% higher |
| Goods & Services | 18% higher | 21% higher |
The cost of living in San Jose, CA is 27% higher than the state average and 83% higher than the national average. San Jose, CA housing is 228% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 40% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 11% pricier in San Jose, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 21% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 10% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 21% pricier in San Jose, CA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in San Jose is $3,301, while home prices circle around $1,980,420.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In San Jose, energy bills cost around $370.15 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $5.16 in San Jose, a dozen eggs go for around $3.72 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.62.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In San Jose, an optometry check-up costs around $199.89, while a dentist appointment is priced $137.23 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.47 in San Jose, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $71.69.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $38.68 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $36.56.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in San Jose, you should budget around $17.64 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $30.00, while dry cleaning costs about $17.80.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In San Jose, the median household income is $146,427.