Cost of living comparison
San Mateo is 1.8% more expensive than Palo Alto.
- Restaurants
-
pay 5.6% less in San Mateo
- Groceries
-
pay 13.6% more in San Mateo
- Transportation
-
pay 7.1% less in San Mateo
- Housing
-
pay 15.2% less in San Mateo
- Childcare
-
pay 1.3% more in San Mateo
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 3.1% more in San Mateo
- Clothing
-
pay 22.4% more in San Mateo
The cost of clothing, groceries, entertainment and sports, and childcare in San Mateo are more expensive than in Palo Alto. Expenses including housing, transportation, and restaurants are lower in San Mateo.
If you lived in San Mateo instead of Palo Alto, you would:
pay 5.6% less for restaurants
|
Palo Alto
|
San Mateo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$27.50
|
$24.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.50
|
$12.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$3.00
|
$2.75
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.17
|
$2.17
|
|
pay 13.6% more for groceries
|
Palo Alto
|
San Mateo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$5.22
|
$4.59
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$8.45
|
$8.82
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.33
|
$5.42
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$5.50
|
$5.50
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$7.75
|
$7.75
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$3.30
|
$2.83
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.90
|
$0.93
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.60
|
$3.56
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$3.00
|
$2.46
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.89
|
$2.29
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.66
|
$1.66
|
|
pay 7.1% less for transportation
|
Palo Alto
|
San Mateo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.85
|
$4.77
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$90.00
|
$65.60
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,530.00
|
$23,536.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$18.41
|
$22.70
|
|
pay 15.2% less for housing
|
Palo Alto
|
San Mateo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$60.00
|
$60.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$3,397.50
|
$2,525.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$3,198.33
|
$2,800.00
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$213.87
|
$197.74
|
|
pay 1.3% more for childcare
|
Palo Alto
|
San Mateo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,705.00
|
$2,738.89
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$37,770.00
|
$37,770.00
|
|
pay 3.1% more for entertainment and sports
|
Palo Alto
|
San Mateo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.10
|
$5.00
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.00
|
$11.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$120.00
|
$160.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$15.99
|
$15.00
|
|
pay 22.4% more for clothing
|
Palo Alto
|
San Mateo
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.00
|
$62.33
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$36.12
|
$50.00
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$80.00
|
$85.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$117.22
|
$125.00
|
|
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