2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Boulder, CO vs San Rafael, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in San Rafael or is it cheaper to live in Boulder?
- San Rafael is 62.8% more expensive than Boulder.

Which city has more affordable housing, San Rafael or Boulder?
- San Rafael housing costs are 38.0% more expensive than Boulder housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Boulder or is Health Care more affordable in San Rafael.
- Health related expenses are 28.8% more in San Rafael.
 Boulder, COSan Rafael, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock230.1100
 Food & Groceries106.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock110.1100
 Housing322.6  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,209,300$338,100
 Utilities93  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock118.7100
 Miscellaneous154.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Boulder    55 Reviews

Outside of the university, Boulder had a very distinctive "wealthy hippy" feel. A lot of alternative medicine and a matching ethos. This is changing some among my  More

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We moved here from Texas about 4 years ago and love it here! The amazing sense of community and high regard for the environment are two of the main reasons we love  More

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Over 5 years ago

Most people do much worse than Boulder. I'm the most critical person I've ever met who is never happy or satisfied -- so that's a pretty huge compliment.   More

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Reviews for San Rafael    7 Reviews

Over 13 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 15 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 17 years ago

Cost of living too high. Unfriendly  More

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