Cost of living in San Jose, California (United States) is about the same as in Berkeley, California (United States)
We need your help!
Expatistan is a collaborative effort. The data gets better with every new price that you enter.
Do you know the prices in Berkeley, California or in San Jose, California? You can help!
Improve the prices for Berkeley, California! Improve the prices for San Jose, California!
This comparison has some inconsistent or sparse data. It already provides a reliable comparison but it is not bullet-proof. It is based on 177 prices entered by 17 different people.
Full price comparison, by category
(click to expand each category)
Currency:
| Food | + 13% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food in San Jose, California (United States) is 13% more expensive than in Berkeley, California (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Jose, California | Berkeley, California | Diff | ||
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | $21 | $19 | + 9% | |
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | $12 | $9 | + 28% | |
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | $7 | $6 | + 3% | |
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | $1.25 | $1.35 | - 8% | |
| 12 eggs, large | $5.08 | $4.23 | + 20% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | $4.22 | $3.77 | + 12% | |
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | $7 | $10 | - 33% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | $4.90 | $3.42 | + 43% | |
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | $2.63 | $2.04 | + 29% | |
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | $2.70 | $3.70 | - 27% | |
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | $17 | $16 | + 6% | |
| 2 liters of coca-cola | $2.37 | $2.51 | - 5% | |
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | $3.87 | $2.54 | + 53% | |
| Housing | + 1% | |||
| Housing in San Jose, California (United States) is about the same as in Berkeley, California (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Jose, California | Berkeley, California | Diff | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | $3,535 | $3,758 | - 6% | |
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | $3,120 | $3,121 | - 0% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | $149 | $159 | - 6% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | $2,695 | $2,419 | + 11% | |
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | $1,795 | $1,923 | - 7% | |
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | $91 | $102 | - 11% | |
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | $64 | $55 | + 17% | |
| 40” flat screen tv | $322 | $367 | - 12% | |
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | $172 | $117 | + 47% | |
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | $13 | $11 | + 15% | |
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | $26 | $28 | - 9% | |
| Clothes | - 9% | |||
| Clothes in San Jose, California (United States) is 9% cheaper than in Berkeley, California (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Jose, California | Berkeley, California | Diff | ||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | $49 | $55 | - 11% | |
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | $42 | - | - | |
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | $103 | $107 | - 4% | |
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | $109 | $185 | - 41% | |
| Transportation | + 5% | |||
| Transportation in San Jose, California (United States) is 5% more expensive than in Berkeley, California (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Jose, California | Berkeley, California | Diff | ||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | $26,402 | - | - | |
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | $1.38 | $1.33 | + 4% | |
| Monthly ticket public transport | $108 | $101 | + 7% | |
| Taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff, 8 km. (5 miles) | $15 | - | - | |
| Personal Care | - 9% | |||
| Personal Care in San Jose, California (United States) is 9% cheaper than in Berkeley, California (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Jose, California | Berkeley, California | Diff | ||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | $9 | - | - | |
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | $37 | - | - | |
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | $109 | $146 | - 26% | |
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | $9 | - | - | |
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | $4.68 | $5.30 | - 12% | |
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | $7 | $6 | + 7% | |
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | $3.98 | $3.83 | + 4% | |
| Tube of toothpaste | $2.43 | $2.36 | + 3% | |
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | $29 | $24 | + 20% | |
| Entertainment | + 0% | |||
| Entertainment in San Jose, California (United States) is about the same as in Berkeley, California (United States) | ||||
| Update prices | Update prices | |||
| San Jose, California | Berkeley, California | Diff | ||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | $55 | $47 | + 18% | |
| 2 tickets to the movies | $31 | $25 | + 22% | |
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | $246 | $164 | + 49% | |
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | $98 | $106 | - 8% | |
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | $15 | $14 | + 8% | |
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | $6 | $4.68 | + 29% | |
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | $7 | $7 | + 1% | |
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | $496 | $529 | - 6% | |
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | $0.19 | - | - | |
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | $54 | $81 | - 34% | |
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | $9 | $10 | - 9% | |
 |
TOTAL | + 3% | ||
This comparison has some inconsistent or sparse data. It already provides a reliable comparison but it is not bullet-proof. It is based on 177 prices entered by 17 different people.
These prices were last updated on September 30, 2023.
Detailed prices for each city individually
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Singapore is 51% more expensive than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Abu Dhabi is 10% cheaper than in Dubai
- Cost of living in Orlando, Florida is 27% cheaper than in Miami, Florida
- Cost of living in New York City is 20% more expensive than in London
- Cost of living in Toronto is 25% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Oporto is 13% cheaper than in Lisbon
- Cost of living in Brasília is 15% more expensive than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Mexico City is 35% more expensive than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in Atlanta, Georgia is 16% cheaper than in Miami, Florida
- Cost of living in Florianopolis is 20% more expensive than in Manila
Compare other countries
Do you live in Berkeley, California? We need your help!
Cost of Living and Prices in Similar Cities
- Cost of Living, Prices in San Antonio, California (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Edmonton (Canada)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Walnut Creek, California (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Calgary (Canada)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Abbotsford (Canada)
- Cost of Living, Prices in Santa Fe, New Mexico (United States)
- Cost of Living, Prices in San Francisco, California (United States)
Prices recently added
- Public transport in Leicester costs £67 (5 minutes ago)
- Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Venice costs €40 (11 minutes ago)
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Kuala Lumpur costs RM17 (32 minutes ago)
- Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new in Salvador costs R$ 80,000 (about 1 hour ago)
- 1 liter of whole fat milk in Islamabad costs ₨220 (about 1 hour ago)
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Gaborone costs P18,000 (about 2 hours ago)