Cost of living index
San Francisco, CA
115.6 / 100
Living in San Francisco, CA is 15.6% more expensive than the US average.
Overall prices
115.6
Housing / rent
194.7
vs US average
+15.6%
What it costs to live in San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA has an overall price level of 115.6 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 15.6% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 194.7 it is 94.7% above the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is San Francisco, CA an expensive place to live?
San Francisco, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 115.6, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 15.6% more expensive than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in San Francisco, CA?
Housing in San Francisco, CA scores 194.7 against a US average of 100 — roughly 94.7% above average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does San Francisco, CA compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in San Francisco, CA sit at 115.6 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 194.7. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.