Monte Sereno, CA vs San Marino, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

San Marino, CA has a modeled overall cost index 14.0% lower than Monte Sereno, CA.

Monte Sereno, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,470 / month
San Marino, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,940 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Monte Sereno, CA and San Marino, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Monte Sereno, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $656/month in San Marino, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,128 in San Marino, CA

Regional cost estimates: Monte Sereno, CA uses San Jose, CA. San Marino, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 14.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$656

Savings

Annual Impact

$7.9K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Monte Sereno, CA

Population:3K

Cost Index:

176.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$3.40M

San Marino, CA

Population:12K

Cost Index:

151.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$2.70M

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Monte Sereno, CA

The Golden State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 3K residents.

San Marino, CA

The Golden State

12K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 12K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Monte Sereno, CA vs San Marino, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Monte Sereno, CA	San Marino, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$4,535/mo	$3,626/mo	↓ $909less	20.0%
Transportation	$733/mo	$1,122/mo	↑ $389more	53.0%
Healthcare	$393/mo	$308/mo	↓ $85.25less	21.7%
All Utilities	$259/mo	$310/mo	↑ $51.31more	19.8%
Other	$951/mo	$900/mo	↓ $51.22less	5.4%
Groceries	$629/mo	$578/mo	↓ $50.27less	8.0%

Housing

↓ 20.0%

Monte Sereno, CA

$4,535

San Marino, CA

$3,626

Difference

$909

less

Transportation

↑ 53.0%

Monte Sereno, CA

$733

San Marino, CA

$1,122

Difference

$389

Healthcare

↓ 21.7%

Monte Sereno, CA

$393

San Marino, CA

$308

Difference

$85.25

less

All Utilities

↑ 19.8%

Monte Sereno, CA

$259

San Marino, CA

$310

Difference

$51.31

Other

↓ 5.4%

Monte Sereno, CA

$951

San Marino, CA

$900

Difference

$51.22

less

Groceries

↓ 8.0%

Monte Sereno, CA

$629

San Marino, CA

$578

Difference

$50.27

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,610

To$2,110

↓ $500

1 Bed

From$2,970

To$2,360

↓ $610

2 Bed

From$3,470

To$2,940

↓ $530

3 Bed

From$4,590

To$3,730

↓ $860

Monte Sereno, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,970–$2,970/mo

San Marino, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,360–$2,360/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Monte Sereno, CA

$6,844

Monthly in San Marino, CA

$656

Difference

Home Values

Monte Sereno

San Marino

$3.40M

Median Value

$2.70M

↑ +1.4%

YoY Change

↑ +6.1%

↑ +30.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +20.4%

Homes in San Marino are 21% less expensive than Monte Sereno

Calculate payment - Monte Sereno Calculate payment - San Marino

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Monte Sereno, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

San Marino, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Monte Sereno, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

San Marino, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Monte Sereno

San Marino

47 Good

Air Quality

80 Moderate

55.4%

Good Air Days

10.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌅🌡

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

11 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

▲+2.0°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

11 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

Before moving from Monte Sereno, CA to San Marino, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in San Marino, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Monte Sereno, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Monte Sereno to San Marino moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to San Marino, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Monte Sereno, CA vs San Marino, CA

How do the cost estimates for Monte Sereno, CA and San Marino, CA compare?

San Marino, CA has a modeled overall cost index 14.0% lower than Monte Sereno, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Monte Sereno, CA, the model estimates $142,128 in San Marino, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Monte Sereno, CA and San Marino, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,470/month in Monte Sereno, CA and $2,940/month in San Marino, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.