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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or is it cheaper to live in San Jose?
- Charleston is 51.5% less expensive than San Jose.

Which city has more affordable housing, Charleston or San Jose?
- Charleston housing costs are 69.1% less expensive than San Jose housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Jose or is Health Care more affordable in Charleston.
- Health related expenses are 10.4% less in Charleston.
 San Jose, CACharleston, SCUnited States
 Overall  Unlock112.0100
 Food & Groceries113.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock96.5100
 Housing428.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$493,200$338,100
 Utilities97  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock94.1100
 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 Charleston    76 Reviews

Over 2 years ago

Charleston is beautiful and unique and incredibly special. If you don't believe me, just ask Anthony Bourdain in his Parts Unknown episode - and he was an insightful  More

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Serious lack of health care and "good old boys club" whereby doctors will not even see the patient but diagnose them based on referring doctor. My sister died there for  More

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Over 5 years ago

Boy, has this once beautiful town changed...for the worse! I initially moved here 20 years ago because the people were so nice, no traffic, great choice of hospitals,  More

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