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) | 67% higher | 229% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 14% higher | 53% higher |
| Food | 1% lower | 13% higher |
| Healthcare | 4% higher | 13% higher |
| Transportation | 5% higher | 36% higher |
| Goods & Services | 7% higher | 21% higher |
The cost of living in San Jose, CA is 30% higher than the state average and 82% higher than the national average. San Jose, CA housing is 229% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 53% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 13% 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 13% 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 $3,170, while home prices circle around $1,943,697.
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 $388.11 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 $5.15 in San Jose, a dozen eggs go for around $3.65 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.52.
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 $172.89, while a dentist appointment is priced $132.94 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.78 in San Jose, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $70.74.
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 $36.01 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $37.67.
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 $17.08 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $31.02, while dry cleaning costs about $17.14.
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 $141,565.