How expensive is San Jose compared to the rest of United States?

San Jose ranks #5 out of 577 cities globally. It is 49.4% more expensive than the United States average, based on 82 cities. The rent index is 67.1 and local purchasing power is 149.6.

What is the average rent in San Jose?

A 1-bedroom apartment in San Jose city centre costs approximately USD 3,086 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to USD 2,630 (saving 15%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around USD 4,788.

Is San Jose affordable to live in?

San Jose is very expensive by global standards. Groceries are expensive, restaurants are expensive, and local purchasing power is average.

🇺🇸 CA, United States · 2026

Lebenshaltungskosten in San Jose

49.4% über dem United States-Durchschnitt

Platz #5 von 577 Städten · Teurer als 99.1% der Städte weltweit

+49.4%

Lebenshaltungskosten

+62.5%

Miete

+11.9%

Lebensmittel

+3.7%

Kaufkraft

Vergleich zum United States-Durchschnitt · United States-Ranking ansehen →

Mietpreise in San Jose

Wohnung	Stadtzentrum	Außerhalb des Zentrums	Du sparst
1-Zimmer	USD 3,086/mo	USD 2,630/mo	15%
3-Zimmer	USD 4,788/mo	USD 4,109/mo	14%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in San Jose

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	$4.98	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	$4.05	2 sources
Bread (500g)	$3.63	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	$18.68	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	$12.17	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	$11.36	2 sources
Eggs (12)	$6.81	2 sources
Milk (1L)	$1.55	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	$2.94	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	$4.28	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	$2.60	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	$24.00	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

$4.98

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

$4.05

Bread (500g)

$3.63

Local cheese (1kg)

$18.68

Chicken (1kg)

$12.17

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

$11.36

Eggs (12)

$6.81

Milk (1L)

$1.55

Potatoes (1kg)

$2.94

Tomatoes (1kg)

$4.28

Water (1.5L)

$2.60

Wine (mid-range)

$24.00

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	$8.50	2 sources
Cappuccino	$5.83	2 sources
McMeal	$13.00	2 sources
Cheap meal	$28.50	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	$121.00	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

$8.50

Cappuccino

$5.83

McMeal

$13.00

Cheap meal

$28.50

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

$121.00

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	$147.46	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	$57.03	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	$106.93	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	$46.33	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

$147.46

Jeans (Levi's 501)

$57.03

Sport shoes (Nike)

$106.93

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

$46.33

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	$17.50	2 sources
Gym membership	$105.42	2 sources

Cinema ticket

$17.50

Gym membership

$105.42

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	$1.32	2 sources
Taxi start	$3.50	1 source
Monthly pass	$92.00	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

$1.32

Taxi start

$3.50

Monthly pass

$92.00

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	$265.71	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

$265.71

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★ Medium Confidence

San Jose has a cost of living index of 86.2 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 2 of 2 data sources.

86.2

Index

Sources

15.6

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

78.4

Expatistan

No data

LivingCost

94.0

ShouldIMove price index

No data

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

View all 577 cities

Kostenindizes

Lebenshaltungskosten

+49.4% Very expensive

Miete

+62.5% Very expensive

Lebensmittel

+11.9% Expensive

Restaurants

+9.8% Expensive

Kaufkraft

+3.7% Average

Leben in San Jose: Was dich erwartet

San Jose ist very expensive nach globalen Maßstäben (Platz #5 von 577 Städten). 49.4% teurer als der United States-Durchschnitt, basierend auf 82 Städten.

Lebensmittel sind expensive, während Essen gehen expensive ist. Restaurants bietet das beste Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis, während Rent am teuersten ist.

Die lokale Kaufkraft ist stark: Einwohner können sich mehr Waren und Dienstleistungen leisten als in den meisten Städten.

Lebenshaltungskosten in San Jose

Mietpreise in San Jose

Prices of Goods & Services in San Jose

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Kostenindizes

Leben in San Jose: Was dich erwartet

Wie schneidet San Jose ab?

Planst du einen Umzug nach San Jose?