Cost of Living: San Diego, CA vs San Mateo, CA
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $3,974/mo in San Diego, CA versus $3,974/mo in San Mateo, CA. In the model, rent is about 32.4% of gross in San Diego, CA versus 44.86% in San Mateo, CA, so San Diego, CA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between San Diego, CA and San Mateo, CA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): San Mateo, CA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): San Diego, CA
- Lower home prices: San Diego, CA
- Higher median household income: San Mateo, CA
Cost of Living Index
San Diego, CA: 142.3 (U.S. = 100) · San Mateo, CA: 100 (U.S. = 100)
San Mateo, CA has a lower cost-of-living index than San Diego, CA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
San Diego, CA: $2,112/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · San Mateo, CA: $2,925/mo
Median rent in San Mateo, CA is $813/mo higher than in San Diego, CA.
Median Home Price
San Diego, CA: $848,500 · San Mateo, CA: $1,563,200
Median home price in San Mateo, CA is $714,700 higher than in San Diego, CA.
Median Household Income
San Diego, CA: $104,321 · San Mateo, CA: $152,669
San Mateo, CA has a higher median household income than San Diego, CA by $48,348.
San Diego, CA overview · San Mateo, CA overview · Popular comparisons