Residential comparison · 13 facts
San Mateo, CA vs South San Francisco, 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 San Mateo needs about $81,000 in South San Francisco to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from South San Francisco, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $89,000 in San Mateo.
A few differences
- San Mateo is higher on median household income ($153,504 vs $136,578).
- South San Francisco is lower on cost of living index (175 vs 206).
- South San Francisco is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,920/mo vs $3,424/mo).
San Mateo vs South San Francisco · facet by facet
| Facet | San Mateo, CA | South San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $1,618,700 | $1,188,800 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $3,424/mo | $2,920/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| State & local income tax | 2.09% | 2.09% |
| Sales tax | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Cost of living index | 206 | 175 |
| Groceries index | 112 | 112 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $153,504 | $136,578 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 260 days | 260 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: San Mateo, CA · South San Francisco, CA
Questions & answers
- Is San Mateo cheaper than South San Francisco?
- South San Francisco has the lower day-to-day cost index (175 vs 206 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in South San Francisco equals $85,000 in San Mateo?
- A household earning $85,000 in San Mateo needs about $81,000 in South San Francisco to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of South San Francisco lifestyle costs about $89,000 in San Mateo.