Living Cost Compare
San Francisco

California

$2,750/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,750 in San Francisco, CA versus $2,020 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Seattle, WA is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $141,446 in San Francisco, CA and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 14% higher in San Francisco, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,560
$1,638
+5% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$2,425
$1,858
+23% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,982
$2,359
+21% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$3,269
$2,918
+11% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,380,500
$912,100
+34% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$141,446
$121,984
+14% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$74,260
$72,610
+2% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.7 yr
35.5 yr
+4.2 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
38.5%
44.2%
+5.7 pp in Seattle, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.1%
67.5%
+7.4 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
31.2 min
26.6 min
+4.6 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
596.5
787.3
+32% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
3,962.2
5,107.9
+29% in Seattle, WA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.3°F
53.5°F
+3.8°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
23.6 in
37.7 in
+14.1 in in Seattle, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$6.05/gal
$5.77/gal
+5% in San Francisco, CA

Area: San Francisco vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.75
+10% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
14.4
+57% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$17.32
+16% 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 (CA / WA)
7.25%
6.5%
+0.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
None
+13.3 pp in CA

San Francisco vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or Seattle?
Seattle, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in San Francisco than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $97,000 a year in San Francisco versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, San Francisco or Seattle?
San Francisco is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).