Menifee vs San Mateo: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Menifee, CA and San Mateo, CA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricMenifee, CASan Mateo, CA
Population103,680104,165
Median household income$87,871$149,152
Median home value$442,600$1,508,900
Median rent (/mo)$1,946$2,971

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Menifee, CA and San Mateo, CA comes down to what you value most. Menifee has the lower median home value, and Menifee has the lower median rent.

San Mateo has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Menifee or San Mateo?
By median home value, Menifee is the cheaper of the two ($442,600 vs $1,508,900). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Menifee or San Mateo?
Median household income is $87,871 in Menifee versus $149,152 in San Mateo, per the US Census Bureau.

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