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

Levnadskostnader i San Jose

49.4% över United States-genomsnittet

Placering #5 av 577 städer · Dyrare än 99.1% av städerna i världen

+49.4%

Levnadskostnader

+62.5%

Hyra

+11.9%

Livsmedel

+3.7%

Köpkraft

Jämfört med United States-genomsnittet · Se United States-ranking →

Hyrespriser i San Jose

Lägenhet	Innerstad	Utanför centrum	Du sparar
1 rum	USD 3,086/mo	USD 2,630/mo	15%
3 rum	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

Kostnadsindex

Levnadskostnader

+49.4% Very expensive

Hyra

+62.5% Very expensive

Livsmedel

+11.9% Expensive

Restauranger

+9.8% Expensive

Köpkraft

+3.7% Average

Att bo i San Jose: vad du kan förvänta dig

San Jose är very expensive enligt globala mått (plats #5 av 577 städer). 49.4% dyrare än United States-genomsnittet, baserat på 82 städer.

Matvaror är expensive, medan att äta ute är expensive. Restaurants erbjuder bäst värde, medan Rent är dyrast.

Den lokala köpkraften är stark: invånare har råd med fler varor och tjänster än i de flesta städer.