Residential comparison · 13 facts
Charlotte, NC vs San Jose, CA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Charlotte needs about $112,500 in San Jose to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from San Jose, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $57,500 in Charlotte.
A few differences
- San Jose is lower on property tax rate (0.75% vs 0.85%).
- Charlotte is lower on sales tax (7.25% vs 9.38%).
- Charlotte is lower on groceries index (98 vs 114).
Charlotte vs San Jose · facet by facet
| Facet | Charlotte, NC | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $400,000 | $1,450,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,800/mo | $3,550/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.85% | 0.75% |
| State & local income tax | 3.15% | 2.09% |
| Sales tax | 7.25% | 9.38% |
| Cost of living index | 99 | 168 |
| Groceries index | 98 | 114 |
| Utilities | $160/mo | $230/mo |
| Median household income | $74,000 | $133,000 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3.9% |
| Crime index | 49/100 | 36/100 |
| School rating | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 218 days | 257 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Charlotte, NC · San Jose, CA
Questions & answers
- Is Charlotte cheaper than San Jose?
- Charlotte has the lower day-to-day cost index (99 vs 168 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in San Jose equals $85,000 in Charlotte?
- A household earning $85,000 in Charlotte needs about $112,500 in San Jose to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of San Jose lifestyle costs about $57,500 in Charlotte.