San Mateo, CA vs Redwood City, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Redwood City, CA has a modeled overall cost index 5.2% higher than San Mateo, CA.

San Mateo, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $4,480 / month
Redwood City, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,800 / 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 Mateo, CA and Redwood City, 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 Mateo, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $3.85/month in Redwood City, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,954 in Redwood City, CA

Regional cost estimates: San Mateo, CA uses Oakland, CA. Redwood City, CA uses Fremont, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 5.2%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$3.85

Savings

Annual Impact

$46.16

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 Mateo, CA

Population:101K

Cost Index:

159.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$2.02M

Redwood City, CA

Population:81K

Cost Index:

168.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.78M

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San Mateo, CA

The Golden State

101K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 101K residents.

Redwood City, CA

The Golden State

81K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 81K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: San Mateo, CA vs Redwood City, 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 Mateo, CA	Redwood City, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,687/mo	$4,145/mo	↑ $458more	12.4%
Transportation	$1,289/mo	$848/mo	↓ $441less	34.2%
Other	$1,120/mo	$1,100/mo	↓ $19.63less	1.8%
Groceries	$704/mo	$689/mo	↓ $14.94less	2.1%
All Utilities	$272/mo	$283/mo	↑ $11.29more	4.2%
Healthcare	$429/mo	$431/mo	↑ $2.03more	0.5%

Housing

↑ 12.4%

San Mateo, CA

$3,687

Redwood City, CA

$4,145

Difference

$458

Transportation

↓ 34.2%

San Mateo, CA

$1,289

Redwood City, CA

$848

Difference

$441

less

Other

↓ 1.8%

San Mateo, CA

$1,120

Redwood City, CA

$1,100

Difference

$19.63

less

Groceries

↓ 2.1%

San Mateo, CA

$704

Redwood City, CA

$689

Difference

$14.94

less

All Utilities

↑ 4.2%

San Mateo, CA

$272

Redwood City, CA

$283

Difference

$11.29

Healthcare

↑ 0.5%

San Mateo, CA

$429

Redwood City, CA

$431

Difference

$2.03

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$3,090

To$2,620

↓ $470

1 Bed

From$3,700

To$3,140

↓ $560

2 Bed

From$4,480

To$3,800

↓ $680

3 Bed

From$5,720

To$4,850

↓ $870

San Mateo, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,670–$3,730/mo

Redwood City, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $3,060–$3,620/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 Mateo, CA

$7,496

Monthly in Redwood City, CA

$3.85

Difference

Home Values

San Mateo

Redwood City

$2.02M

Median Value

$1.78M

↑ +1.8%

YoY Change

↓ -0.9%

↑ +21%

5-Year Change

↑ +14.2%

$1.73M - $2.32M

Price Range

$1.25M - $1.86M

Homes in Redwood City are 12% less expensive than San Mateo

Calculate payment - San Mateo Calculate payment - Redwood City

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 Mateo, 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

Redwood City, 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 Mateo, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Redwood City, 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 Mateo

Redwood City

49 Good

Air Quality

49 Good

53%

Good Air Days

53%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥🌊🌅

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

▲+1.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

2 days

Heat Days >95°F

5 days

Before moving from San Mateo, CA to Redwood City, CA

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: San Mateo, CA vs Redwood City, CA

How do the cost estimates for San Mateo, CA and Redwood City, CA compare?

Redwood City, CA has a modeled overall cost index 5.2% higher than San Mateo, 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 Mateo, CA, the model estimates $149,954 in Redwood City, 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 Mateo, CA and Redwood City, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $4,480/month in San Mateo, CA and $3,800/month in Redwood City, 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.