Living Cost Compare
Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $2,750 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 54% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 55% higher in San Francisco, CA. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,011
$1,560
+54% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,080
$2,425
+125% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,411
$2,982
+111% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,674
$3,269
+95% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$435,400
$1,380,500
+217% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$63,836
$141,446
+122% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,680
$74,260
+49% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.4 yr
39.7 yr
+4.3 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
47.6%
38.5%
+9.1 pp in Eugene, OR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.2%
60.1%
+15.9 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
18.6 min
31.2 min
+12.6 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.6
596.5
+87% in San Francisco, CA
Property Crime
3,348.9
3,962.2
+18% in San Francisco, CA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.5°F
57.3°F
+4.8°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
46.1 in
23.6 in
+22.5 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$5.43/gal
+7% in San Francisco, CA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.3
33.3
+104% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.59
$20.72
+1% in San Francisco, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / CA)
None
7.25%
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.90%
13.30%
+3.4 pp in CA

Eugene vs San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or San Francisco?
Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or San Francisco?
Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).