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) | 52% higher | 230% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 8% higher | 43% higher |
| Food | 0% | 10% higher |
| Healthcare | 8% lower | 7% higher |
| Transportation | 1% higher | 37% higher |
| Goods & Services | 19% higher | 22% higher |
The cost of living in San Jose, CA is 28% higher than the state average and 84% higher than the national average. San Jose, CA housing is 230% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 43% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 10% pricier in San Jose, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 22% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 7% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 22% 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 $3,193, while home prices circle around $1,982,986.
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 $372.98 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 $5.18 in San Jose, a dozen eggs go for around $3.98 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.86.
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 $175.85, while a dentist appointment is priced $135.64 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.55 in San Jose, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $69.75.
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 $38.24 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $36.95.
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 $17.31 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $29.74, while dry cleaning costs about $17.41.
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.