Cost of Living: San Jose, CA vs San Marcos, CA
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $3,974/mo in San Jose, CA versus $3,974/mo in San Marcos, CA. In the model, rent is about 38.13% of gross in San Jose, CA versus 31.92% in San Marcos, CA, so San Marcos, CA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between San Jose, CA and San Marcos, CA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): San Marcos, CA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): San Marcos, CA
- Lower home prices: San Marcos, CA
- Higher median household income: San Jose, CA
Cost of Living Index
San Jose, CA: 198.5 (U.S. = 100) · San Marcos, CA: 100 (U.S. = 100)
San Marcos, CA has a lower cost-of-living index than San Jose, CA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
San Jose, CA: $2,486/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · San Marcos, CA: $2,082/mo
Median rent in San Jose, CA is $404/mo higher than in San Marcos, CA.
Median Home Price
San Jose, CA: $1,187,800 · San Marcos, CA: $792,400
Median home price in San Jose, CA is $395,400 higher than in San Marcos, CA.
Median Household Income
San Jose, CA: $141,565 · San Marcos, CA: $105,286
San Jose, CA has a higher median household income than San Marcos, CA by $36,279.
San Jose, CA overview · San Marcos, CA overview · Popular comparisons