City profile
San Francisco, CA cost of living
CA · BLS RPP 117.9
Latest official changes
Updates affecting San Francisco, CA
Existing city metrics remain tied to the current verified ReloMath dataset until the owner flips the new data vintage. Use these rows as dated official-source change receipts.
Overall RPP
117.9
US = 100
Housing RPP
206.4
Housing component
Goods RPP
114.5
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$3,359/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where San Francisco, CA sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#1 of 67
+17.9 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+19.5
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#1 of 67
+1,753/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of San Francisco, CA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the San Francisco, CA metro.
Moved in
201,149
people · 133,274 households
Moved out
263,064
people · 160,907 households
Net
−61,915
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#62 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-61,811
median -104 people
Largest flow share
14% in / 8% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Santa Clara County, CA 28,008
- Los Angeles County, CA 8,000
- San Joaquin County, CA 4,771
- Sacramento County, CA 4,263
- Solano County, CA 4,245
Where residents moved to
- Santa Clara County, CA 20,001
- San Joaquin County, CA 12,470
- Los Angeles County, CA 9,774
- Sacramento County, CA 8,632
- Solano County, CA 8,271
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in San Francisco, CA?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in San Francisco, CA | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $58,950 | $50,000 x (117.9/100) |
| $75,000 | $88,425 | $75,000 x (117.9/100) |
| $100,000 | $117,900 | $100,000 x (117.9/100) |
| $125,000 | $147,375 | $125,000 x (117.9/100) |
| $150,000 | $176,850 | $150,000 x (117.9/100) |
| $200,000 | $235,800 | $200,000 x (117.9/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
California income tax 1%-13.3% (highest in nation). No city income tax.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in San Francisco, CA?
- San Francisco, CA has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 117.9 (US average = 100). It is 17.9% more expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in San Francisco, CA?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $117,900 in San Francisco, CA to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in San Francisco, CA?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is approximately $3,359 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from San Francisco, CA?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 201,149 people moved into the San Francisco, CA metro and 263,064 moved out — a net loss of roughly 61,915 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Santa Clara County, CA.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to San Francisco, CA, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
Curated cost-of-living comparisons for San Francisco, CA
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