2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
San Jose, CA vs La Mesa, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in La Mesa or is it cheaper to live in San Jose?
- La Mesa is 32.9% less expensive than San Jose.

Which city has more affordable housing, La Mesa or San Jose?
- La Mesa housing costs are 40.9% less expensive than San Jose housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Jose or is Health Care more affordable in La Mesa.
- Health related expenses are 17.4% less in La Mesa.
 San Jose, CALa Mesa, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock154.9100
 Food & Groceries113.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock89.0100
 Housing428.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$737,200$338,100
 Utilities97  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock119.9100
 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 La Mesa    9 Reviews

The same San Diego prices and high taxes, but not the nice weather. 15 degrees hotter than the coast. Save the money and move to AZ if you like the climate in La Mesa.  More

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I now live in Wyoming but I was a third generation San Diegan, my maternal grandmother having been born on Coronado Island in 1894. If you are a new arrival to the  More

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I Need Correct Information I lived there Over 20 Years  More

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