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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in San Jose or is it cheaper to live in San Marcos?
- San Jose is 49.1% more expensive than San Marcos.

Which city has more affordable housing, San Jose or San Marcos?
- San Jose housing costs are 64.8% more expensive than San Marcos housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Marcos or is Health Care more affordable in San Jose.
- Health related expenses are 21.0% more in San Jose.
 San Marcos, CASan Jose, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock231.0100
 Food & Groceries109.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock107.7100
 Housing260.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,184,400$338,100
 Utilities104  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock151.0100
 Miscellaneous153.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for San Marcos    5 Reviews

Just an amazing place to live. I have lived in 7 states and almost countless cities. Sam Marcos is one of the best. This is literally the longest place I have lived  More

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Over 15 years ago

Is this area to expensive for the average income retired  More

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Over 18 years ago

Beautiful Mediterranean climate with bright sunshine and ocean breazes. City is just 15 minutes away from the  More

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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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