What is the cost of living in San Jose, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Jose has an overall cost of living index of 216, which is 2.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, San Jose has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in San Jose ranks as #554 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Jose ranks as the #80 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in San Jose, check out:
San Jose Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Jose. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Jose is 119.
The Groceries index in San Jose is 125.
The Health index in San Jose is 425.
The Housing index in San Jose is 135.
The Transportation index in San Jose is 132.
The Utilities index in San Jose is 136.
| Living Expense | San Jose | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 216 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 119 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 125 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 425 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 135 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 132 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 136 | 121 | 100 |
San Jose Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in San Jose Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
San Jose, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in San Jose is $1,463,614.
The Median Rent in San Jose is $2,669.
The Median Income in San Jose is $146,427.
The Home Value To Income in San Jose is 10.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Jose is 0.22x.
| Statistic | San Jose | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,463,614 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,669 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $146,427 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 10.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
San Jose, CA Costs By Category
Detailed San Jose Services costs vs. California
| Item | San Jose | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.66 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $33.3 | $18 |
| Haircut | $33.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.51 | $45.56 |
Detailed San Jose Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | San Jose | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.79 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.13 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.05 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.77 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.92 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed San Jose Health costs vs. California
| Item | San Jose | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $158.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $194.05 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $147.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed San Jose Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | San Jose | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.81 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $65.62 | $59.92 |
Detailed San Jose Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | San Jose | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.74 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.07 | $192.25 |
San Jose SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Jose
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Jose. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Sunnyvale, CA has a cost of living index of 271, 1.3x San Jose.
Santa Clara, CA has a cost of living index of 242, 1.1x San Jose.
Mountain View, CA has a cost of living index of 287, 1.3x San Jose.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 154,236 | 271 | 1.3x |
| Santa Clara, CA | 130,256 | 242 | 1.1x |
| Mountain View, CA | 83,732 | 287 | 1.3x |
| Milpitas, CA | 78,578 | 218 | 1.0x |
| Palo Alto, CA | 67,237 | 341 | 1.6x |
| Cupertino, CA | 58,566 | 329 | 1.5x |
| Campbell, CA | 42,781 | 234 | 1.1x |
| Los Gatos, CA | 32,786 | 306 | 1.4x |
| Los Altos, CA | 30,698 | 341 | 1.6x |
| Saratoga, CA | 30,319 | 338 | 1.6x |
