F
79%
Overall NAT. AVG.
20%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
207%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Downtown San Mateo California
Cost of living179247140
Goods & Services120120111
Groceries123123112
Health care125125109
Housing307534196
Transportation132132126
Utilities136136127
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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Downtown is 28% higher than the San Mateo average
  • The cost of living in Downtown is 79% higher than the national average
  • Downtown housing is 207% higher than the national average
  • California general sales tax is 42% higher than the national average
  • California state income tax is 61% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Downtown

30 km
30 mi
See all the best places to live around Downtown

Compare San Mateo, CA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

          This is how much you would need to earn in
          Price difference in compared to
          Cost of living index
          Goods & Services index
          Groceries index
          Health care index
          Housing index
          Transportation index
          Utilities index

          Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

          Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
          Household$85,948$7,162$2,005$2,579

          California Sales Tax

          State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
          California 7.25% 10.5%

          California Income Tax

          State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
          California 1% 13.3%

          Goods & Services

          Item San Mateo National avg. Difference
          Haircut $28.38$24.2617.0%
          Beauty Salon $85.43$45.5687.5%
          Toothpaste $4.09$3.7010.4%
          Shampoo $1.65$1.2829.1%
          Movie $16.02$12.1332.0%
          Bowling $24.01$18.0033.4%

          Groceries

          Item San Mateo National avg. Difference
          Ground Beef $6.23$5.846.7%
          Fried Chicken $2.11$1.5734.1%
          Milk $5.18$4.6710.9%
          Potatoes $4.98$4.930.9%
          Pizza $15.74$12.0930.2%
          Beer $11.21$10.417.6%

          Health Care

          Item San Mateo National avg. Difference
          Optometrist $159.79$125.6827.1%
          Doctor $174.45$135.7828.5%
          Dentist $155.36$113.2937.1%
          Ibuprofen $11.30$10.656.1%
          Lipitor $498.84$468.606.5%

          Housing

          Item San Mateo National avg. Difference
          Home Price $1,186,400.00$184,700.00542.3%
          Avg. Mortgage Payment $7,224.18$2,346.69207.8%
          Apartment Rent $2,658.00$949.00180.1%

          Transportation

          Item San Mateo National avg. Difference
          Gasoline $4.63$3.4633.9%
          Tire Balancing $75.33$59.9225.7%

          Utilities

          Item San Mateo National avg. Difference
          All Electricity $298.77$193.9954.0%
          Phone $203.63$192.255.9%
          Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

          Nearby cities with low cost of living

          City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
          Mountain View CDP, CA2,58513030.1%
          Cherryland, CA15,97615858.3%
          Ashland, CA23,56616463.8%
          San Lorenzo, CA30,11717171.4%
          San Leandro, CA90,48917271.8%
          San Mateo, CA103,619247147.3%

          Cities with similar population

          City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
          Rialto, CA103,54912727.3%
          Burbank, CA103,41118787.5%
          El Cajon, CA103,24914746.6%
          Allen, TX104,04012928.6%
          Las Cruces, NM102,950918.9%
          San Mateo, CA103,619247147.3%
          Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.