What it actually costs to live in
San Mateo County, CA.
Living wage breakdown for San Mateo County, California — by household size.
Living wage by household size
| Household | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Adult | $28.74 | $59,774 |
| 1 Adult, 1 Child | $42.11 | $87,597 |
| 1 Adult, 2 Children | $54.28 | $112,894 |
| 1 Adult, 3 Children | $66.21 | $137,714 |
| 2 Adults (1 working) | $35.45 | $73,744 |
| 2 Adults, 1 Child | $49.59 | $103,149 |
| 2 Adults, 2 Children | $61.39 | $127,700 |
| 2 Adults, 3 Children | $72.96 | $151,763 |
Annual cost breakdown (1 Adult)
| Category | Annual Cost | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $26,864 | $2,239 |
| Food | $5,538 | $462 |
| Medical | $4,284 | $357 |
| Transportation | $6,406 | $534 |
| Childcare | $0 | $0 |
| Civic & Other | $2,617 | $218 |
| Personal & Misc | $3,306 | $276 |
| Taxes | $10,759 | $897 |
| Total | $59,774 | $4,981 |
Wage comparison
Living wage$28.74/hr
Minimum wage$16.50/hr
Poverty wage$7.52/hr
Have a salary in mind for San Mateo County?
Check a salary →Data calculated from HUD, BLS, USDA, and Census data (2025). Methodology based on MIT Living Wage Calculator research.