2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Carson, CA vs San Jose, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in San Jose or is it cheaper to live in Carson?
- San Jose is 42.9% more expensive than Carson.

Which city has more affordable housing, San Jose or Carson?
- San Jose housing costs are 88.4% more expensive than Carson housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Carson or is Health Care more affordable in San Jose.
- Health related expenses are 24.2% more in San Jose.
 Carson, CASan Jose, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock231.0100
 Food & Groceries101.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock107.7100
 Housing227.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,184,400$338,100
 Utilities92  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock151.0100
 Miscellaneous133.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Carson    5 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

The city is going through "Urban Renewal", which means the poor,elderly and homeless can't afford the "NEW" Townhomes so this is what goes on if you fall under either  More

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Over 10 years ago

The weather is very nice throughout the year. We could use more  More

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I've lived in Carson all my life and the only thing special here is the weather. Summers are great, as it is in the 70s for most of the time. However, this is a  More

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Reviews for San Jose    90 Reviews

I've lived in west San Jose/Cambrian, between Los Gatos and Almaden SJ since 1997. This side of town somehow avoided the erosion of the American dream. Houses are  More

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I lived in San Jose for 40 years. That’s during the most exciting time when the Silicon Valley was booming with real technology and San Jose was ranked as the safest big  More

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Over 4 years ago

I've lived in San Jose, CA for 25 years. This city is being over run with crime and gangs. The cost of living is very high. Granted, you are so close to mountains,  More

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