Living Cost Compare
Denver

Colorado

$1,750/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,750/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,750 in Denver, CO versus $2,750 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Denver, CO is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 35% higher in San Francisco, CA. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Denver, CO
San Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,497
$1,560
+4% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,583
$2,425
+53% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,958
$2,982
+52% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,269
$3,269
+44% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$586,700
$1,380,500
+135% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$91,681
$141,446
+54% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$62,320
$74,260
+19% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
39.7 yr
+4.5 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
49.1%
38.5%
+10.6 pp in Denver, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.6%
60.1%
+4.5 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
25.4 min
31.2 min
+5.8 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
998.3
596.5
+40% in Denver, CO
Property Crime
4,781.9
3,962.2
+17% in Denver, CO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.2°F
57.3°F
+7.1°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
15.6 in
23.6 in
+8.1 in in San Francisco, CA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.58/gal
$6.05/gal
+32% in San Francisco, CA

Area: Denver vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75
$2.50
+9% in Denver, CO

Adult base one-way fare — RTD vs SF Muni (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
33.4
+99% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$20.72
+78% in San Francisco, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.37
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$7.23
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.14
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.74
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / CA)
2.9%
7.25%
+4.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
13.30%
+8.9 pp in CA

Denver vs San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or San Francisco?
Denver, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,750 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or San Francisco?
Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); San Francisco under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).