2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
San Jose, CA vs Big Bear Lake, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Big Bear Lake or is it cheaper to live in San Jose?
- Big Bear Lake is 48.7% less expensive than San Jose.

Which city has more affordable housing, Big Bear Lake or San Jose?
- Big Bear Lake housing costs are 64.5% less expensive than San Jose housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Jose or is Health Care more affordable in Big Bear Lake.
- Health related expenses are 18.2% less in Big Bear Lake.
 San Jose, CABig Bear Lake, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock118.6100
 Food & Groceries113.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock88.1100
 Housing428.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$586,600$338,100
 Utilities97  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock114.7100
 Miscellaneous155.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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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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Reviews for Big Bear Lake    5 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

We moved to Big Bear Lake a couple of years ago from Los Angeles because of my husband's job. It is a somewhat pretty city, the lake is mirky and surrounded by trash,  More

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Over 15 years ago

Big Bear Lake, a beautiful setting in a remote mountain community in Southern California. A draw to tourists from the Los Angeles area for skiing, boating, and mountain  More

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In the San Bernardino mountains of Southern California, this little town has almost everything you would want to see and do. In the spring and summer the lake is filled  More

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