CostIndexUSA

Glendale, CA vs San Jose, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Glendale
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableCA
San Jose
110.4
overall index
$3,400/mo rent

San Jose is slightly cheaper than Glendale — 2.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Glendale, you would need $77,700 in San Jose. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+24.4%
Glendale
170.4
San Jose
211.9
🛒 Groceries1.3%
Glendale
106.6
San Jose
105.2
🚗 Transportation3.9%
Glendale
109.6
San Jose
105.3
🏥 Healthcare3.8%
Glendale
99.1
San Jose
95.3
Utilities1.2%
Glendale
158.6
San Jose
156.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Glendale to see what you'd need to earn in San Jose to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in San Jose, CA
$77,700
$2,300 less needed in San Jose

Formula: salary × (110.4 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.9718. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Glendale, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

San Jose, CA

Median Home Price
$1,569,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,400
Housing Index
211.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
38.5×

San Jose has 24.4% higher housing costs compared to Glendale.

Income & Job Market

Glendale, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
196,543
Top Industries
EntertainmentHealthcareRetailManufacturingFinance

San Jose, CA

Median Household Income
$153,200
Per Capita Income
$87,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
1,013,240
Top Industries
TechnologySemiconductorsSoftwareHealthcareFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Glendale, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

San Jose, CA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.