Cost of living, San Jose
110.4
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). San Jose sits about 10.4% above national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- +10.4%
- Metro
- San Jose
- CBSA
- 41940
San Jose all-items RPP is 110.4 (2024), about 10.4% above US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $99,360 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in San Jose
| Component | San Jose | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 110.4 | 100 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 211.9 | 100 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in San Jose
| At US average | In San Jose |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $66,240 |
| $90,000 | $99,360 |
| $150,000 | $165,600 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (110.4 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in San Jose?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is 110.4, versus a US average of 100 (+10.4%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $99,360 in San Jose for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Lawyers , 6,040 OEWS emp. $301,320
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 19,070 OEWS emp. $291,660
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 5,130 OEWS emp. $234,590
- Nurse Practitioners , 1,580 OEWS emp. $231,560
- Marketing Managers , 7,300 OEWS emp. $231,370
- Financial Managers , 7,970 OEWS emp. $225,280
See methodology and disclaimer.