Cost of living in San Francisco, CA
Livability score 35 · cost-of-living index 117.6 (US = 100)
How San Francisco compares
Where San Francisco falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Map of San Francisco
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Cost of living
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 117.6 | metro-area | #200 of 200 |
| Grocery index (US=100) | 115.2 | metro-area | #200 of 200 |
| Big Mac price (est.) | $6.69 | metro-area | #200 of 200 |
| Median household income | $129,315 | metro-area | #2 of 200 |
| Median wage (all occupations) | $65,360 | metro-area | #2 of 200 |
Who lives here
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 years | metro-area | #142 of 200 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 52.4% | metro-area | #5 of 200 |
| Foreign-born residents | 31.6% | metro-area | #4 of 200 |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 55.4% | metro-area | #193 of 200 |
Economy
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 5.22% | metro-area | #106 of 200 |
| Population growth (5-yr) | +1.1% | metro-area | #148 of 200 |
Housing — what your money buys
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $1,149,215 | metro-area | #198 of 200 |
| Home price ÷ income (affordability) | 8.9× | metro-area | #191 of 200 |
| 1-yr home appreciation | -0.8% | metro-area | #151 of 200 |
| Price per square foot | $766 | metro-area | #198 of 200 |
| Typical home size (implied) | 1,500 sqft | ||
| Median rent (monthly) | $3,258 | metro-area | #196 of 200 |
| Homes for sale (inventory) | 8,425 | ||
| Median days on market | 14 | metro-area | #76 of 200 |
Taxes
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total tax burden (est. % of income) | 13.5% | state | #169 of 200 |
| Combined sales tax | 8.82% | state | #150 of 200 |
| State income tax (top rate) | 13.30% | ||
| Capital gains tax | 13.30% | state | #180 of 200 |
| High earners | 1% Mental Health Services surtax on income over $1M (13.3% top rate) | ||
| Social Security in retirement | Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits | ||
| Effective property tax rate | 0.72% | metro-area | #62 of 200 |
| Median property tax paid | $7,721 | metro-area | #196 of 200 |
Health & childcare
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.3 years | metro-area | #3 of 200 |
| Healthcare (annual, single adult) | $7,200 | state | #139 of 200 |
| Uninsured (share of residents) | 4.7% | metro-area | #14 of 200 |
| Primary care providers per 100k | 120 | metro-area | #6 of 200 |
| Childcare (annual, infant, center) | $19,000 | state | #178 of 200 |
Vehicles & commute
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual registration | $300 | state | #174 of 200 |
| Vehicle property tax (annual) | 0.65% of value (~$182/yr) | state | #115 of 200 |
| Emissions testing | Required | ||
| Emissions detail | Smog check every 2 years in most counties | ||
| DMV & license offices | 11 | ||
| Avg commute to work | 33 min | metro-area | #194 of 200 |
| Commute by driving alone | 51.6% | metro-area | #2 of 200 |
| Solo drivers commuting 30+ min | 46.4% | metro-area | #188 of 200 |
Utilities & fuel
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 35.3¢/kWh | state | #181 of 200 |
| Avg monthly electric bill | $317 | state | #181 of 200 |
| Gasoline | $4.85/gal | state | #182 of 200 |
| Natural gas (avg monthly bill) | $72 | state | #100 of 200 |
| Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) | $138 | state | #159 of 200 |
| Home internet (avg monthly bill) | $83 | state | #135 of 200 |
Insurance
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home insurance (annual) | $1,500 | state | #51 of 200 |
| Auto insurance (annual) | $2,400 | state | #154 of 200 |
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main natural hazards | Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. | ||
| FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) | 99.4 — Relatively High | metro-area | #192 of 200 |
| Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) | $750 | state | #90 of 200 |
| Earthquake insurance (annual) | $950 | state | #182 of 200 |
Climate & air quality
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) | 53 | metro-area | #157 of 200 |
| Cooling degree-days (AC load) | 1,000 | metro-area | #78 of 200 |
| Homes with air conditioning (state) | 72% | state | #171 of 200 |
| Heating degree-days (heat load) | 2,200 | metro-area | #51 of 200 |
| Days per year ≥ 90°F | 2 | metro-area | #6 of 200 |
| Days per year ≥ 100°F | 0 | metro-area | #5 of 200 |
| Avg summer high (state) | 84°F | metro-area | #37 of 200 |
| Avg winter low | 45°F | metro-area | #20 of 200 |
| Annual precipitation | 22.9" | metro-area | #40 of 200 |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | metro-area | #1 of 200 |
| Sunshine (% of possible) | 66% | metro-area | #47 of 200 |
| Plant hardiness zone | 9b | ||
| Frost window | 01-31 → 12-31 |
Safety
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) | 500 | state | #161 of 200 |
| Property crime (per 100k, state avg) | 2,330 | state | #112 of 200 |
Local amenities & recreation
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 46 | metro-area | #115 of 200 |
| Parks | 66 | ||
| Hiking areas | 25 | ||
| Golf courses | 22 | ||
| Shooting ranges | 10 | ||
| Lakes | 13 |
Permits
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permit difficulty (1–5) | 5 | state | #165 of 200 |
| Permit detail | Very difficult; CEQA + local review, esp. SF/coastal |
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in San Francisco
Major public and private employers in the San Francisco, CA area.
Salaries by occupation in San Francisco
Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
| Occupation | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Lawyers | $217,340 |
| Marketing Managers | $209,170 |
| Financial Managers | $203,620 |
| Dentists | $202,130 |
| Human Resources Managers | $196,760 |
| Registered Nurses | $181,240 |
| Pharmacists | $180,420 |
| Software Developers | $172,340 |
| Physician Assistants | $171,470 |
| Data Scientists | $163,430 |
| General & Operations Managers | $143,250 |
| Web Developers | $141,980 |
| Dental Hygienists | $137,450 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $136,970 |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $134,860 |
| Construction Managers | $134,670 |
| Physical Therapists | $131,050 |
| Civil Engineers | $122,670 |
| Accountants & Auditors | $103,990 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $103,440 |
| Electricians | $98,560 |
| Graphic Designers | $92,380 |
| Carpenters | $79,730 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters | $75,840 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $65,190 |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,750 |
| Welders, Cutters & Solderers | $61,410 |
| Medical Assistants | $59,770 |
Find a job in San Francisco
Cities in the San Francisco area
San Francisco (851,036) →Oakland (437,825) →Fremont (228,795) →Hayward (160,602) →Concord (125,007) →Berkeley (121,385) →Richmond (115,619) →Antioch (115,016) →San Mateo (104,165) →Daly City (103,648) →San Leandro (89,723) →Livermore (87,154) →San Ramon (86,119) →Redwood City (83,077) →Pleasanton (78,691) →Alameda (77,565) →Pittsburg (76,419) →Dublin (71,068) →Walnut Creek (69,809) →Union City (69,502) →South San Francisco (65,596) →Castro Valley (65,444) →Brentwood (64,443) →San Rafael (60,891) →Novato (53,055) →Newark (47,470) →Oakley (43,525) →Danville (43,449) →San Bruno (43,218) →Pacifica (38,048) →Martinez (37,093) →Pleasant Hill (34,504) →Menlo Park (33,324) →Foster City (33,215) →San Pablo (31,907) →Burlingame (30,995) →San Carlos (30,490) →San Lorenzo (29,759) →East Palo Alto (29,520) →Belmont (27,820) →Hercules (26,041) →El Cerrito (25,869) →Lafayette (25,310) →Bay Point (24,407) →Ashland (23,164) →Millbrae (22,825) →Albany (20,027) →Orinda (19,477) →Pinole (18,946) →Moraga (16,859) →Cherryland (15,499) →El Sobrante (15,497) →Discovery Bay (15,362) →Alamo (14,355) →Mill Valley (14,199) →North Fair Oaks (13,718) →Larkspur (12,969) →Emeryville (12,840) →San Anselmo (12,761) →Tamalpais-Homestead Valley (12,196) →Half Moon Bay (11,633) →Hillsborough (11,258) →Piedmont (11,161) →Clayton (11,070) →Blackhawk (10,622) →Fairview (10,583) →Corte Madera (10,155) →
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