Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA versus $2,750 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 57% higher in San Francisco, CA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
San Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$1,560
+39% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$2,425
+104% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$2,982
+114% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$3,269
+133% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$1,380,500
+494% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$141,446
+133% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$74,260
+37% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
39.7 yr
+4.6 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
52.3%
38.5%
+13.8 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
60.1%
+25.5 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
32.0 min
31.2 min
+0.8 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
916.8
596.5
+35% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,614.3
3,962.2
+14% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.1°F
57.3°F
+0.2°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
23.6 in
+24.9 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$6.05/gal
+41% in San Francisco, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.50
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
20.9
33.4
+59% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.67
$20.72
+24% in San Francisco, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.37
+6% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.10
+9% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.23
+5% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.02
$2.14
+6% in San Francisco, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.68
$0.74
+9% in San Francisco, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / CA)
6%
7.25%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
13.30%
+10.2 pp in CA

Philadelphia vs San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or San Francisco?
Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or San Francisco?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).