2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Redwood City, CA vs Salem, MA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Salem or is it cheaper to live in Redwood City?
- Salem is 47.4% less expensive than Redwood City.

Which city has more affordable housing, Salem or Redwood City?
- Salem housing costs are 72.4% less expensive than Redwood City housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Redwood City or is Health Care more affordable in Salem.
- Health related expenses are 24.5% less in Salem.
 Redwood City, CASalem, MAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock131.5100
 Food & Groceries117.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock88.6100
 Housing625.6  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$505,900$338,100
 Utilities98  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock103.0100
 Miscellaneous161.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Redwood City    11 Reviews

(Caveating everything with "it's Bay Area prices") Redwood City is a large sprawling town where you can find just about anything you're looking for. There's great  More

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The entire Bay Area is ridiculous. You can't compare it to other areas. RWC is reasonably cheap for the area. I pay $5K for a rental townhouse in one of the many  More

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Lovely weather. Safe place to live (I live in Redwood Shores). The only thing that keeps this place from being 5 stars is the cost of housing. When you have to pay an  More

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Reviews for Salem    4 Reviews

I've been in Salem, Massachusetts for a year now because it brought me up here for my husband's job. Salem may be a great place to visit during Halloween but other  More

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Over 12 years ago

My husband and I move to Salem, MA from Long Island NY five years ago and we love it! We kept on visiting for Halloween and we just decided to move here for the hell of  More

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Over 18 years ago

We are family friendly, albeit strange. We celebrate Halloween for a month. Check out the Haunted Happenings  More

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