Redondo Beach, CA vs San Rafael, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

San Rafael, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% lower than Redondo Beach, CA.

Redondo Beach, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,320 / month
San Rafael, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,120 / 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 Redondo Beach, CA and San Rafael, 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 Redondo Beach, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $40.46/month in San Rafael, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,486 in San Rafael, CA

Regional cost estimates: Redondo Beach, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. San Rafael, CA uses Oakland, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 0.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$40.46

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$486

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.

Redondo Beach, CA

Population:68K

Cost Index:

158.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.49M

San Rafael, CA

Population:60K

Cost Index:

157.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.34M

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Redondo Beach, CA

The Golden State

68K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 68K residents.

San Rafael, CA

The Golden State

60K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 60K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Redondo Beach, CA vs San Rafael, 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	Redondo Beach, CA	San Rafael, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,988/mo	$3,703/mo	↓ $285less	7.1%
Other	$990/mo	$1,124/mo	↑ $135more	13.6%
Healthcare	$332/mo	$433/mo	↑ $101more	30.6%
Groceries	$623/mo	$711/mo	↑ $87.94more	14.1%
Transportation	$1,234/mo	$1,294/mo	↑ $60.27more	4.9%
All Utilities	$334/mo	$275/mo	↓ $58.96less	17.7%

Housing

↓ 7.1%

Redondo Beach, CA

$3,988

San Rafael, CA

$3,703

Difference

$285

less

Other

↑ 13.6%

Redondo Beach, CA

$990

San Rafael, CA

$1,124

Difference

$135

Healthcare

↑ 30.6%

Redondo Beach, CA

$332

San Rafael, CA

$433

Difference

$101

Groceries

↑ 14.1%

Redondo Beach, CA

$623

San Rafael, CA

$711

Difference

$87.94

Transportation

↑ 4.9%

Redondo Beach, CA

$1,234

San Rafael, CA

$1,294

Difference

$60.27

All Utilities

↓ 17.7%

Redondo Beach, CA

$334

San Rafael, CA

$275

Difference

$58.96

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,380

To$2,150

↓ $230

1 Bed

From$2,660

To$2,580

↓ $80.00

2 Bed

From$3,320

To$3,120

↓ $200

3 Bed

From$4,210

To$3,990

↓ $220

Redondo Beach, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,490–$2,830/mo

San Rafael, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,580–$2,580/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 Redondo Beach, CA

$7,540

Monthly in San Rafael, CA

$40.46

Difference

Home Values

Redondo Beach

San Rafael

$1.49M

Median Value

$1.34M

↑ +0.3%

YoY Change

↓ -2.1%

↑ +27.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +13.9%

$1.37M - $1.60M

Price Range

$1.34M

Homes in San Rafael are 10% less expensive than Redondo Beach

Calculate payment - Redondo Beach Calculate payment - San Rafael

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

Redondo Beach, 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 Rafael, 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

Redondo Beach, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

San Rafael, 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

Redondo Beach

San Rafael

80 Moderate

Air Quality

49 Good

10.4%

Good Air Days

53%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+1.9°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+1.9°F

17 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

Before moving from Redondo Beach, CA to San Rafael, 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 Rafael, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Redondo Beach, 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 Redondo Beach to San Rafael moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Redondo Beach, CA vs San Rafael, CA

How do the cost estimates for Redondo Beach, CA and San Rafael, CA compare?

San Rafael, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% lower than Redondo Beach, 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 Redondo Beach, CA, the model estimates $150,486 in San Rafael, 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 Redondo Beach, CA and San Rafael, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,320/month in Redondo Beach, CA and $3,120/month in San Rafael, 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.