| | San Rafael, CA | Monterey, CA | United States |
| Overall | 230.1 | 151.9 | 100 |
| Food & Groceries | 113.5 | 110.4 | 100 |
| Health | 110.1 | 143.7 | 100 |
| Housing | 445.3 | 333.3 | 100 |
| Median Home Cost | $1,209,300 | $1,022,100 | $338,100 |
| Utilities | 9,730.0% | 8,710.0% | 10,000.0% |
| Transportation | 118.7 | 92.1 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 164.1 | 112.2 | 100 |
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?
In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.
Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate
Upgrade to Premium |
See Example
View More Data >
Reviews for San Rafael 
7 Reviews
San Rafael is only 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but the weather is completely different. It's sunny most of the year, including in the summer when the city More
I feal very safe in this town. I think getting stopped for talking on your cell phone while driving is a big deal here. Thats about all I can More
Cost of living too high. Unfriendly More
Start Your Review of San Rafael
Reviews for Monterey 
21 Reviews
The Monterey city area is an excellent place to live and one of the few California locales where it's relatively safe to raise a family. If I could no longer live here I More
I grew up on the Monterey Peninsula and had to leave to climb out of poverty. The median income is $35,000 and outside of the military, the jobs are mostly service More
My husband and I are just crazy about Monterey. I wonder if we take housing expenses (mortgage or rent) out of the picture, is Monterey still a very expensive city to More
Start Your Review of Monterey
Most Recent Searches On Compare Cities
| Compare City | Compared To This City | |
| Opal, Virginia | Leesburg, Virginia | Compare |
| Bradenton, Florida | Lakeland, Florida | Compare |
| Logan, Utah | Medora, North Dakota | Compare |
| Melissa, Texas | Manor, Texas | Compare |
| Olympia, Washington | Amarillo, Texas | Compare |
| Logan, Utah | Medora, North Dakota | Compare |
| Santee, California | Oceanside, California | Compare |
| Mobile, Alabama | Portland, Oregon | Compare |
| Missoula, Montana | Jupiter, Florida | Compare |
| Wallace, Idaho | Sandpoint, Idaho | Compare |
| Lincoln, Nebraska | Brighton, Colorado | Compare |
| Ogden, Utah | Austin, Texas | Compare |
| Mango, Florida | Dover, Florida | Compare |
| Odessa, Delaware | Camden, Delaware | Compare |
| Marietta, Georgia | Chandler, Arizona | Compare |
| Mango, Florida | Dover, Florida | Compare |
| Mango, Florida | Dover, Florida | Compare |
| Mango, Florida | Dover, Florida | Compare |
| Marietta, Georgia | Chandler, Arizona | Compare |
| Marietta, Georgia | Chandler, Arizona | Compare |