Cost of Living in San Francisco, CA
| Cost of Living in San Francisco, CA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 50% higher | 202% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 9% higher | 33% higher |
| Food | 11% higher | 30% higher |
| Healthcare | 18% higher | 29% higher |
| Transportation | 8% higher | 36% higher |
| Goods & Services | 11% higher | 22% higher |
The cost of living in San Francisco, CA is 25% higher than the state average and 76% higher than the national average. San Francisco, CA housing is 202% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 33% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 22% more in San Francisco, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 22% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 29% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 22% pricier in San Francisco, CA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in San Francisco is $3,700, while home prices circle around $1,501,596.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In San Francisco, energy bills cost around $273.50 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $3.88 in San Francisco, a dozen eggs go for around $4.25 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.50.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In San Francisco, an optometry check-up costs around $154.90, while a dentist appointment is priced $148.48 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $5.19 in San Francisco, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $75.85.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $49.59 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $58.55.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in San Francisco, you should budget around $15.62 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $26.84, while dry cleaning costs about $15.87.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In San Francisco, the median household income is $136,689.