Is San Francisco expensive to live in?

San Francisco is among the most expensive of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $2,425 per month ranks #1 of 50 and is 98% higher than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in San Francisco?

Average rent in San Francisco, CA runs a studio around $1,560, a one-bedroom around $2,425, a two-bedroom around $2,982, a three-bedroom around $3,269 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in San Francisco?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $2,425 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $97,000 a year. The median household income here is $141,446.

How much does it cost to live in San Francisco per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in San Francisco is about $2,750 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

City skyline across body of water during daytime — San Francisco, CA

Cost of Living in San Francisco, CA

Population 815,201 · California

~$2,750/mo est.1BR $2,425Home $1,380,500

Photo: Andrew Whitmore / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in San Francisco, CA is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $2,425 a month — 98% higher than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,560 and two-bedrooms $2,982.

Median household income here is $141,446, 86% higher than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $2,750 before food and transport. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $2,425

Studio

$1,560

1 Bedroom

$2,425

2 Bedroom

$2,982

3 Bedroom

$3,269

Buying a Home$1,380,500

Median Home Value

$1,380,500

Income$141,446

Median Household Income

$141,446

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$74,260

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.37

Bread (lb)

$2.10

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities33.4¢/kWh

Electricity

33.4¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$20.72/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$6.05/gal

Regular Gasoline (San Francisco)

$6.05/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$2.50

Base Fare (SF Muni)

$2.50

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (CA)7.25% sales

State Sales Tax

7.25%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 13.30%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime596.5 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

596.5

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,962.2

FBI Crime Data Explorer, San Francisco Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 39.7 yrs

Median Age

39.7 yrs

Homeownership

38.5%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.1%

Avg Commute

31.2 min

Climate57.3°F

Avg Annual Temperature

57.3°F

Annual Precipitation

23.6 in

San Francisco cost of living — FAQ

Is San Francisco expensive to live in?: San Francisco is among the most expensive of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $2,425 per month ranks #1 of 50 and is 98% higher than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in San Francisco?: Average rent in San Francisco, CA runs a studio around $1,560, a one-bedroom around $2,425, a two-bedroom around $2,982, a three-bedroom around $3,269 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in San Francisco?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $2,425 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $97,000 a year. The median household income here is $141,446.
How much does it cost to live in San Francisco per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in San Francisco is about $2,750 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare San Francisco with nearby cities

San Francisco vs Sacramento San Francisco vs Fresno San Francisco vs Bakersfield San Francisco vs Los Angeles San Francisco vs Long Beach San Francisco vs Anaheim

Nearby cities

Sacramento, CA 75 mi Fresno, CA 162 mi Bakersfield, CA 251 mi Los Angeles, CA 347 mi Long Beach, CA 364 mi Anaheim, CA 371 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.