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Cost of Living · California

San Francisco Cost of Living

San Francisco, California costs approximately 45.0% above the US national average. Compare with 49 other major US cities.

1.45×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
San Francisco ranks 1 of 13 cities in California by cost of living.
Cities CHEAPER than San Francisco (99)
Oakland, CA
−6.9% cheaper
New York City, NY
−9.0% cheaper
Honolulu, HI
−10.3% cheaper
Irvine, CA
−10.3% cheaper
Los Angeles, CA
−15.9% cheaper
Boston, MA
−15.9% cheaper
San Diego, CA
−16.6% cheaper
Yonkers, NY
−17.2% cheaper
Anchorage, AK
−17.2% cheaper
Seattle, WA
−18.6% cheaper
Long Beach, CA
−18.6% cheaper
Anaheim, CA
−18.6% cheaper
Scottsdale, AZ
−18.6% cheaper
Chula Vista, CA
−20.7% cheaper
Miami, FL
−22.8% cheaper
Portland, OR
−24.1% cheaper
Newark, NJ
−24.1% cheaper
Sacramento, CA
−24.1% cheaper
Riverside, CA
−24.1% cheaper
Denver, CO
−25.5% cheaper
Chicago, IL
−27.6% cheaper
Austin, TX
−27.6% cheaper
Baltimore, MD
−27.6% cheaper
Stockton, CA
−27.6% cheaper
Aurora, CO
−27.6% cheaper
Hialeah, FL
−27.6% cheaper
Frisco, TX
−27.6% cheaper
Las Vegas, NV
−28.3% cheaper
Minneapolis, MN
−28.3% cheaper
Plano, TX
−28.3% cheaper
Chandler, AZ
−28.3% cheaper
Phoenix, AZ
−29.7% cheaper
Philadelphia, PA
−29.7% cheaper
Atlanta, GA
−29.7% cheaper
Tampa, FL
−29.7% cheaper
Henderson, NV
−29.7% cheaper
Reno, NV
−29.7% cheaper
Gilbert, AZ
−29.7% cheaper
Charleston, SC
−29.7% cheaper
Salt Lake City, UT
−29.7% cheaper
Orlando, FL
−30.3% cheaper
Wilmington, DE
−31.0% cheaper
Raleigh, NC
−31.0% cheaper
Virginia Beach, VA
−31.0% cheaper
St. Paul, MN
−31.0% cheaper
Chesapeake, VA
−31.0% cheaper
North Las Vegas, NV
−31.0% cheaper
Boise, ID
−31.0% cheaper
Fresno, CA
−31.0% cheaper
Worcester, MA
−31.0% cheaper
Dallas, TX
−31.7% cheaper
Nashville, TN
−31.7% cheaper
Colorado Springs, CO
−31.7% cheaper
Bakersfield, CA
−31.7% cheaper
St. Petersburg, FL
−31.7% cheaper
Madison, WI
−31.7% cheaper
Norfolk, VA
−32.4% cheaper
Jacksonville, FL
−33.1% cheaper
Charlotte, NC
−33.1% cheaper
Mesa, AZ
−33.1% cheaper
Houston, TX
−33.8% cheaper
Fort Worth, TX
−33.8% cheaper
Tucson, AZ
−33.8% cheaper
Glendale, AZ
−33.8% cheaper
Garland, TX
−33.8% cheaper
Spokane, WA
−33.8% cheaper
Pittsburgh, PA
−34.5% cheaper
Arlington, TX
−34.5% cheaper
Tallahassee, FL
−34.5% cheaper
Milwaukee, WI
−35.2% cheaper
Albuquerque, NM
−35.2% cheaper
New Orleans, LA
−35.2% cheaper
San Antonio, TX
−35.9% cheaper
Grand Rapids, MI
−35.9% cheaper
Columbus, OH
−36.6% cheaper
Detroit, MI
−36.6% cheaper
Cincinnati, OH
−36.6% cheaper
Kansas City, MO
−36.6% cheaper
Lexington, KY
−36.6% cheaper
Corpus Christi, TX
−36.6% cheaper
Buffalo, NY
−36.6% cheaper
Greensboro, NC
−36.6% cheaper
Knoxville, TN
−36.6% cheaper
El Paso, TX
−37.2% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−37.2% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−37.2% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−37.2% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−37.9% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−37.9% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−37.9% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−38.6% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−38.6% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−38.6% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−39.3% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−39.3% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−39.3% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−40.7% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−40.7% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−40.7% cheaper

San Francisco cost of living, in context

With a cost-of-living index of 1.45× the US national average, San Francisco sits above the typical American cost baseline. 0 of the 49 other major US cities we track cost more, while 99 cost less.

What drives the index: housing dominates (typically 30-40% of household budget), followed by transportation (~15%), food (~10%), healthcare (~10%), and utilities/services. San Francisco's premium reflects high housing costs in particular — coastal proximity, employer concentration, and supply constraints all push prices.

Salary in San Francisco

Salaries in San Francisco typically scale with the cost-of-living index. A professional earning $X in a national-average metro would expect approximately $145K for the same role in San Francisco. See our salary by job in San Francisco pages for specific role estimates across 50 jobs.

Related tools

San Francisco Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home with city/state taxes. San Francisco salary by job — 50 jobs. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cost of living index for San Francisco?▾
San Francisco's cost-of-living index is 1.45× US average — meaning living costs are approximately 45.0% above the national average. Major drivers: housing, taxes, transportation. Index based on BEA Regional Price Parities.
Is San Francisco expensive to live in?▾
Yes — San Francisco is among the more expensive US cities, with costs ~45.0% above national average. Housing is typically the dominant factor.
What salary do I need to live in San Francisco?▾
Living comfortably in San Francisco typically requires income matching the local cost-of-living multiplier × what you'd need elsewhere. For a "moderate" lifestyle: household income of $80K+ is often suggested. Use our salary by city pages for job-specific estimates.
How does San Francisco compare within California?▾
San Francisco ranks 1 of 13 cities we track in California by cost of living. Within-state variation can be significant — major metros typically cost more than smaller cities or rural areas.
Where does this index come from?▾
BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — published annually by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. Reflects cost differences for the same basket of goods/services across metros. Useful baseline; specific items (housing, dining out) can vary much more than the overall index suggests.