Santa Monica, CA vs San Rafael, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

San Rafael, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.8% lower than Santa Monica, CA.

Santa Monica, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $3,400 / 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 Santa Monica, 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 Santa Monica, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $5.71/month in San Rafael, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,931 in San Rafael, CA

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

Overall Cost

↓ 0.8%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$5.71

Savings

Annual Impact

$68.56

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.

Santa Monica, CA

Population:90K

Cost Index:

159.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.46M

San Rafael, CA

Population:60K

Cost Index:

157.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.34M

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Santa Monica, CA

The Golden State

90K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 90K 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: Santa Monica, 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	Santa Monica, CA	San Rafael, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$3,990/mo	$3,680/mo	↓ $310less	7.8%
Other	$990/mo	$1,118/mo	↑ $127more	12.8%
Healthcare	$331/mo	$430/mo	↑ $99.73more	30.2%
Groceries	$621/mo	$706/mo	↑ $85.32more	13.7%
All Utilities	$333/mo	$273/mo	↓ $59.72less	17.9%
Transportation	$1,235/mo	$1,286/mo	↑ $51.64more	4.2%

Housing

↓ 7.8%

Santa Monica, CA

$3,990

San Rafael, CA

$3,680

Difference

$310

less

Other

↑ 12.8%

Santa Monica, CA

$990

San Rafael, CA

$1,118

Difference

$127

Healthcare

↑ 30.2%

Santa Monica, CA

$331

San Rafael, CA

$430

Difference

$99.73

Groceries

↑ 13.7%

Santa Monica, CA

$621

San Rafael, CA

$706

Difference

$85.32

All Utilities

↓ 17.9%

Santa Monica, CA

$333

San Rafael, CA

$273

Difference

$59.72

less

Transportation

↑ 4.2%

Santa Monica, CA

$1,235

San Rafael, CA

$1,286

Difference

$51.64

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,440

To$2,150

↓ $290

1 Bed

From$2,730

To$2,580

↓ $150

2 Bed

From$3,400

To$3,120

↓ $280

3 Bed

From$4,310

To$3,990

↓ $320

Santa Monica, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,390–$2,980/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 Santa Monica, CA

$7,494

Monthly in San Rafael, CA

$5.71

Difference

Home Values

Santa Monica

San Rafael

$1.46M

Median Value

$1.34M

↓ -3.3%

YoY Change

↓ -2.1%

↑ +3.6%

5-Year Change

↑ +13.9%

$1.05M - $4.51M

Price Range

$1.34M

Homes in San Rafael are 8% less expensive than Santa Monica

Calculate payment - Santa Monica 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

Santa Monica, 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

Santa Monica, 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

Santa Monica

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 Santa Monica, 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 Santa Monica, 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 Santa Monica 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: Santa Monica, CA vs San Rafael, CA

How do the cost estimates for Santa Monica, CA and San Rafael, CA compare?

San Rafael, CA has a modeled overall cost index 0.8% lower than Santa Monica, 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 Santa Monica, CA, the model estimates $149,931 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 Santa Monica, CA and San Rafael, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,400/month in Santa Monica, 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.