2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
San Mateo, CA vs Wake Forest, NC

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Wake Forest or is it cheaper to live in San Mateo?
- Wake Forest is 57.7% less expensive than San Mateo.

Which city has more affordable housing, Wake Forest or San Mateo?
- Wake Forest housing costs are 74.7% less expensive than San Mateo housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Mateo or is Health Care more affordable in Wake Forest.
- Health related expenses are 19.3% less in Wake Forest.
 San Mateo, CAWake Forest, NCUnited States
 Overall  Unlock105.8100
 Food & Groceries116.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock94.8100
 Housing537.6  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$483,600$338,100
 Utilities92  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock96.2100
 Miscellaneous161.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for San Mateo    12 Reviews

I have lived in San Mateo since 2013. It has seen tremendous growth, lots of new restaurants which have become progressively more high-end though there is ample  More

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I'm a native of California. I have lived in the southern part of the state and the northern part of the state for most of my life. I have spent the last 29 years in  More

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Over 15 years ago

San Mateo has a diverse mix of people, a pleasant climate, a very pleasant downtown park with lots going on, and pretty much whatever you need handy. It's not far to  More

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Reviews for Wake Forest    5 Reviews

Im a 22 year old male from Denver Colorado.im looking to relocate and transfer for work . Colorado has high taxes and high cost of living and also to much snow during  More

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Relocating from New York City three years ago took some adjustment and once settled in Wake Forest I was able to breath a little bit easier. The pace is something you  More

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The Triangle is a great place to work and live, more reasonable than the North but more expensive than most places in the South. We live in a beautiful  More

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