San Carlos, CA vs Campbell, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Campbell, CA has a modeled overall cost index 13.9% higher than San Carlos, CA.

San Carlos, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,950 / month
Campbell, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,530 / 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

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓

Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare San Carlos, CA and Campbell, 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 San Carlos, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $898/month in Campbell, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $160,779 in Campbell, CA

Regional cost estimates: San Carlos, CA uses Fremont, CA. Campbell, CA uses San Jose, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 13.9%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$898

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$10.8K

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.

San Carlos, CA

Population:29K

Cost Index:

164.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$2.30M

Campbell, CA

Population:42K

Cost Index:

187.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.85M

Planning the move to Campbell?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

San Carlos, CA

The Golden State

29K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 29K residents.

Campbell, CA

The Golden State

42K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 42K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: San Carlos, CA vs Campbell, 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	San Carlos, CA	Campbell, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$4,138/mo	$5,104/mo	↑ $965more	23.3%
Other	$1,098/mo	$1,070/mo	↓ $27.79less	2.5%
Transportation	$847/mo	$825/mo	↓ $21.43less	2.5%
Groceries	$695/mo	$687/mo	↓ $8.85less	1.3%
Healthcare	$435/mo	$429/mo	↓ $5.54less	1.3%
All Utilities	$286/mo	$282/mo	↓ $3.64less	1.3%

Housing

↑ 23.3%

San Carlos, CA

$4,138

Campbell, CA

$5,104

Difference

$965

Other

↓ 2.5%

San Carlos, CA

$1,098

Campbell, CA

$1,070

Difference

$27.79

less

Transportation

↓ 2.5%

San Carlos, CA

$847

Campbell, CA

$825

Difference

$21.43

less

Groceries

↓ 1.3%

San Carlos, CA

$695

Campbell, CA

$687

Difference

$8.85

less

Healthcare

↓ 1.3%

San Carlos, CA

$435

Campbell, CA

$429

Difference

$5.54

less

All Utilities

↓ 1.3%

San Carlos, CA

$286

Campbell, CA

$282

Difference

$3.64

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,720

To$2,660

↓ $60.00

1 Bed

From$3,260

To$3,020

↓ $240

2 Bed

From$3,950

To$3,530

↓ $420

3 Bed

From$5,050

To$4,660

↓ $390

San Carlos, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,260–$3,260/mo

Campbell, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,020–$3,020/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 San Carlos, CA

$8,398

Monthly in Campbell, CA

$898

Difference

Home Values

San Carlos

Campbell

$2.30M

Median Value

$1.85M

↑ +2.9%

YoY Change

↑ +1.3%

↑ +25%

5-Year Change

↑ +41.8%

Homes in Campbell are 19% less expensive than San Carlos

Calculate payment - San Carlos Calculate payment - Campbell

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

San Carlos, 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

Campbell, 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

San Carlos, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Campbell, 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

San Carlos

Campbell

49 Good

Air Quality

47 Good

53%

Good Air Days

55.4%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌡

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

11 days

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.0°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

11 days

Before moving from San Carlos, CA to Campbell, CA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Campbell, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in San Carlos, 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 San Carlos to Campbell moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: San Carlos, CA vs Campbell, CA

How do the cost estimates for San Carlos, CA and Campbell, CA compare?

Campbell, CA has a modeled overall cost index 13.9% higher than San Carlos, 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 San Carlos, CA, the model estimates $160,779 in Campbell, 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 San Carlos, CA and Campbell, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,950/month in San Carlos, CA and $3,530/month in Campbell, 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.