Corte Madera, CA vs San Carlos, CA

Corte Madera, CA and San Carlos, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.5% difference in their overall index. Corte Madera scores 286 while San Carlos scores 290 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Corte Madera is $3,468/month compared to $2,802/month in San Carlos — a 24% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while San Carlos has cheaper rent, Corte Madera actually has lower median home values ($1,702,000 vs $2,000,001).

Median household income in Corte Madera is $220,771 compared to $233,333 in San Carlos (-5.4%). While San Carlos is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Corte Madera spend roughly 18.9% of their income on rent, more than the 14.4% in San Carlos.