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 | Modesto | San Jose | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,497/mo | $2,526/mo | 40.7% lower in A |
| Median home value | $381,800 | $1,149,600 | 66.8% lower in A |
| Median household income | $73,375 | $136,010 | 46.1% lower in A |
| Groceries index | 104.8 | 114.4 | 8.4% lower in A |
| Utilities index | 126.2 | 141.7 | 11.0% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 105.9 | 125.8 | 15.8% lower in A |
| Healthcare index | 105.8 | 132.6 | 20.2% 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 Modesto, you'd need $139,428 in San Jose to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Modesto, CA is about 28.3% cheaper overall than San Jose, CA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 41% lower in Modesto than in San Jose. If you earn $80,000 in Modesto, you'd need about $111,543 in San Jose to keep the same standard of living.