Route comparison
San Francisco, CA vs Columbia, SC: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between San Francisco, CA and Columbia, SC. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
San Francisco, CA
CA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 117.9
- Housing RPP
- 206.4
- Goods RPP
- 114.5
- 2-BR median rent
- $3,359/mo
California income tax 1%-13.3% (highest in nation). No city income tax.
Columbia, SC
SC
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 93.6
- Housing RPP
- 78.9
- Goods RPP
- 94.6
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,246/mo
South Carolina income tax up to 6.5%.
Equivalent salary
Columbia, SC is cheaper than San Francisco, CA by about 20.6% (RPP 117.9 to 93.6).
$60,000 in San Francisco, CA
-> $47,634
in Columbia, SC
$100,000 in San Francisco, CA
-> $79,389
in Columbia, SC
$150,000 in San Francisco, CA
-> $119,084
in Columbia, SC
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.
Migration signal: San Francisco, CA vs Columbia, SC
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022San Francisco, CA
- Net people
- −61,915
- Net rank
- #62 of 65
- Top origin share
- 14%
- Top destination share
- 8%
Largest source: Santa Clara County, CA. Largest destination: Santa Clara County, CA.
Columbia, SC
- Net people
- +5,576
- Net rank
- #19 of 65
- Top origin share
- 2%
- Top destination share
- 2%
Largest source: Mecklenburg County, NC. Largest destination: Mecklenburg County, NC.
Rent delta: Columbia, SC is $2,113/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than San Francisco, CA. Housing RPP moves from 206.4 to 78.9.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Columbia, SC cheaper or more expensive than San Francisco, CA?
- Columbia, SC (RPP 93.6) is cheaper than San Francisco, CA (RPP 117.9) by about 20.6%.
- What salary do I need in Columbia, SC if I earn $100,000 in San Francisco, CA?
- You would need approximately $79,389 in Columbia, SC to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in San Francisco, CA. Formula: $100,000 x (93.6 / 117.9).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, San Francisco, CA or Columbia, SC?
- For 2021-2022, San Francisco, CA had a net loss of 61,915 people, while Columbia, SC had a net gain of 5,576 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.