2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Bowie, MD vs San Mateo, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in San Mateo or is it cheaper to live in Bowie?
- San Mateo is 107.0% more expensive than Bowie.

Which city has more affordable housing, San Mateo or Bowie?
- San Mateo housing costs are 254.2% more expensive than Bowie housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Bowie or is Health Care more affordable in San Mateo.
- Health related expenses are 34.6% more in San Mateo.
 Bowie, MDSan Mateo, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock250.0100
 Food & Groceries108.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock117.4100
 Housing151.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,378,900$338,100
 Utilities109  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock143.4100
 Miscellaneous118.5  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Bowie    15 Reviews

Over 10 years ago

Bowie should have better department stores. One has to travel to another city to find a Nordstroms and other upscale stores. Bowie Towne Center seems to bring in lesser  More

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Over 10 years ago

I grew up in Bowie in the 1980s. At the time, despite being in PG County which was nicknamed DC's ugly city because its demographics and crime were similar to the  More

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Over 13 years ago

COST TO MUCH TO LIVE  More

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Reviews for San Mateo    12 Reviews

I have lived in San Mateo since 2013. It has seen tremendous growth, lots of new restaurants which have become progressively more high-end though there is ample  More

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I'm a native of California. I have lived in the southern part of the state and the northern part of the state for most of my life. I have spent the last 29 years in  More

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Over 15 years ago

San Mateo has a diverse mix of people, a pleasant climate, a very pleasant downtown park with lots going on, and pretty much whatever you need handy. It's not far to  More

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