salarySan Jose is 4% cheaperBased on official 2024 price levels from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
I need in San Jose to live the same way.
🏠 Rent per month
$3,201
$3,046
🛏️ 2-bedroom rent
$3,312
$2,897
💵 Families earn per year
$152,036
$157,922
🔑 Buying a house
$1,394,500
$1,233,200
📊 Overall prices (U.S. = 100)
115.6
110.4
🏛️ Property tax per year
$9,862
$9,393
⚡ Electric bill per month
$104
$168
👥 People living there
830,235
990,138
Commute to work
30.4 min
27.3 min
College degree
60.3%
47.3%
Own their home
38.2%
55.8%
Below poverty line
11.2%
8.1%
Unemployment
6.1%
5.1%
Bottom line
- Pick San Francisco for a more educated workforce.
- Pick San Jose for lower rent, cheaper 2-bedroom apartments, higher incomes and 4 more.
Pay for the same job
| Job | San Francisco | San Jose | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $212,500 | $301,320 | +42% in San Jose |
| Plumber | $77,880 | $107,560 | +38% in San Jose |
| Firefighter | $113,700 | $152,100 | +34% in San Jose |
| Physician Assistant | $184,380 | $223,640 | +21% in San Jose |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $134,460 | $157,140 | +17% in San Jose |
| Registered Nurse | $186,610 | $216,740 | +16% in San Jose |
| Market Research Analyst | $123,250 | $141,960 | +15% in San Jose |
| Software Developer | $186,640 | $213,110 | +14% in San Jose |
Frequently asked questions
Is San Francisco or San Jose cheaper to live in?
San Jose is about 4% cheaper overall. Rent is $3,046 a month there versus $3,201 in San Francisco.
What salary do I need in San Jose to match $60,000 in San Francisco?
About $57,307 a year gives the same standard of living in San Jose.
Where do people earn more, San Francisco or San Jose?
The typical household earns $152,036 in San Francisco and $157,922 in San Jose, 4% more in San Jose.
More comparisons
All San Francisco comparisons → · All San Jose comparisons →