2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
San Jose, CA vs Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Carmel-by-the-Sea or is it cheaper to live in San Jose?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea is 34.2% less expensive than San Jose.

Which city has more affordable housing, Carmel-by-the-Sea or San Jose?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea housing costs are 52.1% more expensive than San Jose housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Jose or is Health Care more affordable in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- Health related expenses are 33.4% more in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
 San Jose, CACarmel-by-the-Sea, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.9100
 Food & Groceries113.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock143.7100
 Housing428.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,916,200$338,100
 Utilities97  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock103.7100
 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 Carmel-By-The-Sea    3 Reviews

Over 9 years ago

Climate, cost &  More

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carmel has about 60 vacation homes and a dense cottage-y downtown. basically it is a tourist trap cental business district and a bunch of vacation rental homes. the  More

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Over 17 years ago

Liberals have run me out of town. The political is so overwhelming I am looking to relocate. However, if you are an aging hippie with a great deal of money you will be  More

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