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) | 65% higher | 225% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 11% higher | 37% higher |
| Food | 0% | 14% higher |
| Healthcare | 13% higher | 22% higher |
| Transportation | 4% higher | 34% higher |
| Goods & Services | 0% | 10% higher |
The cost of living in San Jose, CA is 27% higher than the state average and 76% higher than the national average. San Jose, CA housing is 225% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 37% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 10% more in San Jose, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 10% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 22% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 10% 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 $3,036, while home prices circle around $1,738,196.
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 $317.40 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 $5.05 in San Jose, a dozen eggs go for around $4.72 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.65.
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 $160.51, while a dentist appointment is priced $143.87 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.82 in San Jose, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $66.91.
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 $25.02 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $32.34.
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 $13.78 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $32.39, while dry cleaning costs about $16.33.
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 $136,010.