San Clemente, CA vs Dublin, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Dublin, CA has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% lower than San Clemente, CA.

San Clemente, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $4,010 / month
Dublin, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,970 / 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 San Clemente, CA and Dublin, 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 Clemente, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $177/month in Dublin, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,877 in Dublin, CA

Regional cost estimates: San Clemente, CA uses Irvine, CA. Dublin, CA uses Fremont, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 4.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$177

Savings

Annual Impact

$2.1K

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 Clemente, CA

Population:62K

Cost Index:

174.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.65M

Dublin, CA

Population:69K

Cost Index:

167.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.27M

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San Clemente, CA

The Golden State

62K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 62K residents.

Dublin, CA

The Golden State

69K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 69K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: San Clemente, CA vs Dublin, 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 Clemente, CA	Dublin, CA	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,260/mo	$828/mo	↓ $431less	34.2%
Healthcare	$328/mo	$421/mo	↑ $93.85more	28.7%
Housing	$3,958/mo	$4,048/mo	↑ $90.03more	2.3%
Other	$1,006/mo	$1,074/mo	↑ $68.02more	6.8%
Groceries	$617/mo	$674/mo	↑ $56.37more	9.1%
All Utilities	$331/mo	$277/mo	↓ $53.96less	16.3%

Transportation

↓ 34.2%

San Clemente, CA

$1,260

Dublin, CA

$828

Difference

$431

less

Healthcare

↑ 28.7%

San Clemente, CA

$328

Dublin, CA

$421

Difference

$93.85

Housing

↑ 2.3%

San Clemente, CA

$3,958

Dublin, CA

$4,048

Difference

$90.03

Other

↑ 6.8%

San Clemente, CA

$1,006

Dublin, CA

$1,074

Difference

$68.02

Groceries

↑ 9.1%

San Clemente, CA

$617

Dublin, CA

$674

Difference

$56.37

All Utilities

↓ 16.3%

San Clemente, CA

$331

Dublin, CA

$277

Difference

$53.96

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$3,310

To$2,920

↓ $390

1 Bed

From$3,395

To$3,250

↓ $145

2 Bed

From$4,010

To$3,970

↓ $40.00

3 Bed

From$5,435

To$5,080

↓ $355

San Clemente, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,770–$4,020/mo

Dublin, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,250–$3,250/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 Clemente, CA

$7,323

Monthly in Dublin, CA

$177

Difference

Home Values

San Clemente

Dublin

$1.65M

Median Value

$1.27M

↓ -0.9%

YoY Change

↓ -7%

↑ +61%

5-Year Change

↑ +25.9%

$1.64M - $1.67M

Price Range

$1.27M

Homes in Dublin are 24% less expensive than San Clemente

Calculate payment - San Clemente Calculate payment - Dublin

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 Clemente, 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

Dublin, 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 Clemente, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Dublin, 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 Clemente

Dublin

54 Moderate

Air Quality

49 Good

32.5%

Good Air Days

53%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

5 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

Before moving from San Clemente, CA to Dublin, CA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: San Clemente, CA vs Dublin, CA

How do the cost estimates for San Clemente, CA and Dublin, CA compare?

Dublin, CA has a modeled overall cost index 4.1% lower than San Clemente, 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 Clemente, CA, the model estimates $147,877 in Dublin, 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 Clemente, CA and Dublin, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $4,010/month in San Clemente, CA and $3,970/month in Dublin, 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.