Moving to San Jose, CA in 2023? Complete Moving Guide

That means the average cost of living in San Jose is higher than the national average.

San Jose costs of living compared to the rest of California

Here’s how the average costs of living in San Jose compares to the rest of California and the entire United States:

San Jose’s housing market info

If you’re interested in buying a home before moving to San Jose, we’ve collated key stats about the city’s housing market. Check out the stats below:

• San Jose’s median home cost is $1,249,900
• Over the past 10 years, the city’s home costs have risen by 151.0%
• Presently, home appreciation in San Jose is up by 18.8%
• About 58% of San Jose residents are homeowners
• Up to 1.4% of homes and apartments in San Jose are open to rent

What’s the average cost of renting a home in San Jose?

If you’re considering renting a home or an apartment before moving to San Jose, this section contains information about average home rental prices in the city. You’ll find all kinds of homes available to rent in the Capital of Silicon Valley. The following are the average costs of renting homes and apartments in San Jose:

• The average cost of a studio apartment in San Jose, CA is $1,942
• The average cost of a 1-bedroom home or apartment in San Jose, CA is $2,189
• The average cost of a 2-bedroom home or apartment in San Jose, CA is $2,597
• The average cost of a 3-bedroom home or apartment in San Jose, CA is $3,338
• The average cost of a 4-bedroom home or apartment in San Jose, CA is $3,815

Since you’re considering moving to San Jose, here’s a breakdown of the city’s job market:

• San Jose’s unemployment rate is 5.6%. The U.S. average is 6.0%
• So far, job growth in San Jose has been positive
• The number of jobs in San Jose has increased by 2.5% over the past year

Top career options in San Jose

What are the highest-paying jobs in San Jose? The Capital of Silicon Valley boasts of several high-paying professions. If you’re moving to San Jose and interested in getting some of the highest-paying jobs in the city, we’ve made a list here.

We’ve highlighted California’s key taxes to give you an idea of what to expect if you’re moving to San Jose from out of state:

• California’s income tax is 1% - 13.3%
• Sales tax in California is 7.25% - 10.50%
• California’s property tax is 0.73% average effective rate
• California’s Gas tax is 50.50 cents per gallon of regular gasoline
• Per gallon of diesel, the gas tax is 38.50 cents

If you’re moving to San Jose, you can add the following things to your bucket list of exciting things you’d like to do and see in the city:

• Enjoy a Night of Laughs at San Jose Improv
• Eat to Your Heart’s Content at the San Jose Farmers Market
• Shop ’til You Drop at Westfield Valley Fair
• Have a Night of Opera at the California Theatre
• Grab Dinner in Japantown
• Slip Down a Water Slide at Raging Waters
• Enjoy a Day Around Willow Glen
• Peruse the Unique Finds at the San Jose Flea Market
• Walk Along the Los Gatos Creek Trail or the Guadalupe River Trail
• Catch a Flick at the West Wind Capitol Drive-In
• Visit Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
• Get Spooked at the Winchester Mystery House
• Do a Self-Guided Tour of San Jose Craft Beer
• Cheer on One of the Local Sports Teams
• People Watch at Plaza de Cesar Chavez

Tip: Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.

Comparing San Jose’s crime rates to California and the U.S.