City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Charlotte | San Jose | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,399/mo | $2,526/mo | 44.6% lower in A |
| Median home value | $312,800 | $1,149,600 | 72.8% lower in A |
| Median household income | $74,070 | $136,010 | 45.5% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 102.4 | 114.4 | 10.5% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 100.3 | 141.7 | 29.2% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 88.7 | 125.8 | 29.5% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 105.6 | 132.6 | 20.3% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Charlotte, you'd need $152,638 in San Jose to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Charlotte, NC is about 34.5% cheaper overall than San Jose, CA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 45% lower in Charlotte than in San Jose. If you earn $80,000 in Charlotte, you'd need about $122,111 in San Jose to keep the same standard of living.