2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Palo Alto, CA vs Foster City, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Foster City or is it cheaper to live in Palo Alto?
- Foster City is 8.2% more expensive than Palo Alto.

Which city has more affordable housing, Foster City or Palo Alto?
- Foster City housing costs are 45.8% less expensive than Palo Alto housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Palo Alto or is Health Care more affordable in Foster City.
- Health related expenses are 9.0% more in Foster City.
 Palo Alto, CAFoster City, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock250.0100
 Food & Groceries124.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock117.4100
 Housing1,139.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,653,900$338,100
 Utilities90  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock148.6100
 Miscellaneous156.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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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 17 years ago

Very  More

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Over 18 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

Reviews for Foster City    4 Reviews

Over 17 years ago

Built on lagoons, great climate, good schools, lots of soccer and other sports for kids, plenty of parking and  More

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Over 18 years ago

A great city to raise a family, safe, great weather around the year, good schools and plenty of recreation. But only if you can afford the hight cost of  More

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Landlords are able to command and receive high rent due to the following attributes: safety, weather and cleanliness of Foster City. The lagoon, waterways and gardens  More

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Start Your Review of Foster City


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