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) | 22% higher | 163% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 22% higher | 60% higher |
| Food | 11% higher | 24% higher |
| Healthcare | 11% higher | 28% higher |
| Transportation | 4% higher | 44% higher |
| Goods & Services | 4% lower | 19% higher |
The cost of living in San Francisco, CA is 11% higher than the state average and 67% higher than the national average. San Francisco, CA housing is 163% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 60% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 24% pricier in San Francisco, CA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 19% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 28% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 19% 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 $3,494, while home prices circle around $1,383,739.
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 $395.85 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 $5.03 in San Francisco, a dozen eggs go for around $3.35 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.57.
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 $168.34, while a dentist appointment is priced $160.37 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $5.07 in San Francisco, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $76.18.
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 $48.81 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $53.68.
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 $16.70 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $28.06, while dry cleaning costs about $16.75.
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 $141,446.