Cost of Living in San Francisco, CA
Updated November 2026 · San Francisco County · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area · population 830,235
Prices in San Francisco are 22.3% above the US average (local index 122.3; the BEA index for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is 115.6), with local housing the biggest cost driver at 188.6; a single adult's modelled budget is about $4,378 a month and the median rent is $2,476.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects San Francisco's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, unchanged.
San Francisco price index by category, US average = 100: All items 122.3, Housing (rents) 188.6, Goods 108.5, Utilities 172.6, Other services 106.2
It is the 42nd most expensive of the 196 California cities in our data. More expensive than 95% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 119.7 | 119.6 | 120.0 | 118.0 | 117.6 | 115.6 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for San Francisco, CA
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $2,339 | $28,068 | 53% |
| Utilities | $387 | $4,644 | 9% |
| Food at home | $306 | $3,672 | 7% |
| Transportation | $793 | $9,516 | 18% |
| Health care | $373 | $4,476 | 9% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $180 | $2,160 | 4% |
| Total | $4,378 | $52,536 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for San Francisco, CA
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $2,976 | $35,712 | 44% |
| Utilities | $622 | $7,464 | 9% |
| Food at home | $565 | $6,780 | 8% |
| Transportation | $1,567 | $18,804 | 23% |
| Health care | $692 | $8,304 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $356 | $4,272 | 5% |
| Total | $6,778 | $81,336 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for San Francisco, CA
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $3,305 | $39,660 | 41% |
| Utilities | $756 | $9,072 | 9% |
| Food at home | $806 | $9,672 | 10% |
| Transportation | $2,089 | $25,068 | 26% |
| Health care | $645 | $7,740 | 8% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $458 | $5,496 | 6% |
| Total | $8,059 | $96,708 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in San Francisco
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,574 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,455 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,124 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,469 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,476 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $2,359 |
| Median home value | $1,394,500 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $4,000+/mo |
| Median household income | $140,970 |
| Rent as % of renter income Moderate | 25.1% |
| Home value ÷ household income Very expensive | 9.9× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in California
29.75¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: −3.8% (from 30.92¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 507 kWh a month in California ≈ $164/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline
$5.75 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +29.6% (from $4.43) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey.
Inflation in the West
Consumer prices in the West Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in San Francisco are 22.3% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $49,100 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 122.3. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daly City, CA | 31 mi | 123.3 | $4,138 | $2,551 |
| San Rafael, CA | 34 mi | 120.9 | $4,006 | $2,377 |
| Novato, CA | 36 mi | 122.7 | $3,701 | $2,506 |
| South San Francisco, CA | 36 mi | 126.8 | $4,274 | $2,802 |
| Burlingame, CA | 38 mi | 126.6 | $4,394 | $2,785 |
| Hillsborough, CA | 39 mi | 136.5 | $5,167 | $3,500+ |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach Gardens, FL | 122.4 | $4,006 | $2,417 |
| Jupiter, FL | 121.9 | $3,971 | $2,381 |
| Brookline, MA | 120.9 | $4,299 | $2,835 |
| Boca Raton, FL | 123.7 | $3,884 | $2,508 |
| Bellevue, WA | 120.7 | $4,022 | $2,572 |
| East Honolulu, HI | 124.2 | $4,139 | $3,313 |
Compare San Francisco with another city
- San Francisco vs Boston, MA: full comparison
- San Francisco vs Los Angeles, CA: full comparison
- San Francisco vs Riverside, CA: full comparison
- San Francisco vs San Diego, CA: full comparison
- San Francisco vs Daly City, CA in the calculator
- San Francisco vs San Rafael, CA in the calculator
- San Francisco vs Novato, CA in the calculator
- San Francisco vs South San Francisco, CA in the calculator
- San Francisco vs the California average (110.7)
Frequently asked questions
Is San Francisco, CA an expensive place to live?
San Francisco has a local cost of living index of 122.3, which is 22.3% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (115.6) and adjusts housing to San Francisco's own rents. It is 11.6 points above the California average. It is the 42nd most expensive of the 196 California cities in our data. More expensive than 95% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in San Francisco?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $4,378 for a single adult, $6,778 for a couple and $8,059 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $73,400 in San Francisco.
What is the average rent in San Francisco?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $2,476 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $2,455, 2 bedrooms $3,124, 3 bedrooms $3,469. The typical renter spends 25.1% of household income on rent (moderate).
How much does a house cost in San Francisco?
The median owner-estimated home value is $1,394,500, 9.9 times the median household income of $140,970 (very expensive). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $4,000+ a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in San Francisco?
California residential electricity averaged 29.75¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $5.75 a gallon (California average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 115.6) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 0667000 (San Francisco city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, California residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, California, week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U West region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources