Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would need to be about $36,975 in Solano County, CA, or $13,025 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
San Mateo County, CA vs Solano County, CA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Solano County, CA is cheaper than San Mateo County, CA.
Moving to Solano County, CA is estimated to save $24,413 per year.
Cheaper County
Solano County, CASave about $24,413 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in San Mateo County, CA is about $36,975 in Solano County, CA.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Solano County, CA. Housing saves $9,693 per year.
Housing: $9,693 lower in Solano County, CA
Taxes: $9,391 lower in Solano County, CA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $720 lower in Solano County, CA
Food: $958 lower in Solano County, CA
Transport: $345 lower in Solano County, CA
San Mateo County, CA→Solano County, CA
Equivalent salary in Solano County, CA
$36,975
-26.05% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in San Mateo County, CA: $184,583
Median Income in Solano County, CA: $113,873
Living Index in San Mateo County, CA 50.77%
Living Index in Solano County, CA 60.86%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from San Mateo County, CA to Solano County, CA.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from San Mateo County, CA to Solano County, CA is estimated to save $24,413 per year. A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would have similar purchasing power to about $36,975 in Solano County, CA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -26.05% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $9,693 per year lower (-31.9%); Taxes is $9,391 per year lower (-37.48%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between San Mateo County, CA and Solano County, CA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 50.8% of median family income in San Mateo County, CA and 60.9% in Solano County, CA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $9,693 per year lower in Solano County, CA than in San Mateo County, CA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Solano County, CA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $958 per year lower in Solano County, CA than in San Mateo County, CA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Solano County, CA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $345 per year lower in Solano County, CA than in San Mateo County, CA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Solano County, CA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $720 per year lower in Solano County, CA than in San Mateo County, CA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Solano County, CA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,307 per year lower in Solano County, CA than in San Mateo County, CA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Solano County, CA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in San Mateo County, CA and Solano County, CA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Solano County, CA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $9,391 per year lower in Solano County, CA than in San Mateo County, CA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Solano County, CA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Solano County, CA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Solano County, CA
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Solano County, CA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Solano County, CA
Annual Savings:
$9,693 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Solano County, CA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -32% lower | |
| Food | -18% lower | |
| Transport | -2% lower | |
| Healthcare | -10% lower | |
| Other Costs | -30% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -37% lower |
In Solano County, CA, modeled annual costs are $69,305 compared with $93,718 in San Mateo County, CA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Solano County, CA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Solano County, CA and San Mateo County, CA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
