Cost of Living

San Francisco, United States

Live cost-of-living data for San Francisco — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
98/ 1002% cheaper than New York
+17% rent since Jul 2026
$7,346/mo
Median Income
45/100
Safety
13.3%
Income Tax
Mediterranean
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
95/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$3,524/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$2,689/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$5,931/month
Food & Groceries
65/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.35/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$4.5/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$3.2/kg
Transportation
60/100
Monthly Transit Pass$95/month
One-Way Ticket$3/trip
Taxi (1 km)$2.4/km
Utilities
68/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$215/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$75/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$55/month
Healthcare
72/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$200/visit
Dentist Visit$250/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$40/course
Education
80/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$1,800/month
International Primary School (yearly)$28,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$1,200/course
Entertainment
68/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$16.5/ticket
Theater Ticket$85/ticket
Museum Entry$25/ticket
Clothing
72/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$85/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$55/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$125/pair
Personal Care
68/100
Haircut (Men)$35/cut
Haircut (Women)$70/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$8/bottle
Dining Out
72/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$25/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$140/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$13/meal
Childcare
85/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$2,100/month
Babysitter (per hour)$25/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$35/pack
Fitness & Sports
65/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$75/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$35/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$15/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

250 Mbps
Internet Speed
$450
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
89/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Mission District, North Beach, Hayes Valley

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Francisco cheap to live in?

San Francisco has a cost of living index of 98/100, where New York = 100. It is 2% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $3,520–$4,928 per month.

How much does rent cost in San Francisco?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of San Francisco costs approximately $3,524/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $2,689/month.

Is San Francisco good for digital nomads?

San Francisco has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 250 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, and coworking spaces run about $450/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in San Francisco?

The median net monthly salary in San Francisco is approximately $7,346 USD. The income tax rate is around 13.3%.

How does San Francisco compare to New York for cost of living?

San Francisco (cost index 98) is 2% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $50/month by moving from New York to San Francisco.

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