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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in San Rafael or is it cheaper to live in San Jose?
- San Rafael is 0.4% less expensive than San Jose.

Which city has more affordable housing, San Rafael or San Jose?
- San Rafael housing costs are 3.9% more expensive than San Jose housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Jose or is Health Care more affordable in San Rafael.
- Health related expenses are 2.2% more in San Rafael.
 San Jose, CASan Rafael, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock230.1100
 Food & Groceries113.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock110.1100
 Housing428.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,209,300$338,100
 Utilities97  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock118.7100
 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 San Rafael    7 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

San Rafael is only 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but the weather is completely different. It's sunny most of the year, including in the summer when the city  More

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Over 15 years ago

I feal very safe in this town. I think getting stopped for talking on your cell phone while driving is a big deal here. Thats about all I can  More

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Over 17 years ago

Cost of living too high. Unfriendly  More

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