Relocation profile · Federal data
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
BEA RPP 110.4 ranks #378 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
- 110.4
- Cost index (US=100)
- $2,902
- 2BR rent / mo
- $98,655
- Median salary
- 26.3
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks #378 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (26.3/100), with its strongest marks in job market and climate.
- #378
- of 387 US metros · Well below median
- 39,431,263
- metro-area population
- 477
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 10,006
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: housing (1/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks #378 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 110.4 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $2,902/mo, median salary $98,655; LiveAbility Score 26.3/100, strongest in job market and climate.
Signature: BEA RPP 110.4 ranks #378 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 110.4 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $2,902/mo.
LiveAbility 26.3/100 puts San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara in the bottom third (#378 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area is 1,111,780.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
26 Top 98% higher than 2% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara MSA; housing RPP 211.9 (100 = national average); 2BR $2,902/mo.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara wages and employment
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara posts 1,111,780 total employment with median salary $98,655 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Software Developers | $213,110 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $37,640 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $44,570 |
| Registered Nurses | $216,740 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $291,660 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara's composite Life Score is 39.9/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks #378 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 26.3/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Job market
Job market
100 /100
- Climate
Climate
82 /100
- Air quality 17
Air quality
17 /100
- Safety 9
Safety
9 /100
- Low hazard 9
Low hazard
9 /100
- Schools 4
Schools
4 /100
- Cost of living 2
Cost of living
2 /100
- Housing 1
Housing
1 /100
What this shows San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara's strongest dimensions are job market and climate; its weakest among scored dims is housing at 1/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara to
Metros near San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara runs a $98,655 median salary at a 110.4 cost index, ranking #378 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.