Aptos, CA vs South San Jose Hills, CA

The cost of living difference between Aptos, CA and South San Jose Hills, CA is dramatic. South San Jose Hills is 31.8% cheaper than Aptos, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Aptos has a cost index of 185 while South San Jose Hills sits at 140, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Aptos is $1,826/month compared to $1,840/month in South San Jose Hills — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Aptos has cheaper rent, South San Jose Hills actually has lower median home values ($540,400 vs $1,098,200).

Median household income in Aptos is $135,349 compared to $94,740 in South San Jose Hills (+42.9%). While Aptos is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Aptos spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 23.3% in South San Jose Hills.