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2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
San Rafael, CA vs Palo Alto, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Palo Alto or is it cheaper to live in San Rafael?
- Palo Alto is 0.4% more expensive than San Rafael.

Which city has more affordable housing, Palo Alto or San Rafael?
- Palo Alto housing costs are 156.0% more expensive than San Rafael housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Rafael or is Health Care more affordable in Palo Alto.
- Health related expenses are 2.2% less in Palo Alto.
 San Rafael, CAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Overall230.1231.0100
 Food & Groceries113.5124.4100
 Health110.1107.7100
 Housing445.31,139.8100
 Median Home Cost$1,209,300$3,107,600$338,100
 Utilities9,730.0%8,990.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation118.7140.6100
 Miscellaneous164.1156.2100

100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for San Rafael    7 Reviews

Over 12 years ago

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

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Over 14 years ago

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

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Over 16 years ago

Cost of living too high. Unfriendly  More

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Reviews for Palo Alto    8 Reviews

The Bay Area in general, but Palo Alto specifically provides many of the qualities sought by many; the climate is beautiful, there is access to cultural and recreational  More

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Over 16 years ago

Very  More

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Over 17 years ago

VTA and SamsTrans and Caltrain all provide good service and most times frequency of service is  More

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Start Your Review of Palo Alto

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ZIPS IN SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA
94901 94903 94964
ZIPS IN PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
94306 94301 94304

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