Living Cost Compare
San Francisco

California

$2,750/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Washington, DC is roughly 23% 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 $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 25% higher in San Francisco, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

San Francisco, CA
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,560
$1,763
+13% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$2,425
$1,885
+22% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,982
$1,949
+35% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$3,269
$2,249
+31% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,380,500
$724,600
+48% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$141,446
$106,287
+25% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$74,260
$71,060
+4% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.7 yr
34.9 yr
+4.8 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
38.5%
41.1%
+2.6 pp in Washington, DC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.1%
63.6%
+3.5 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
31.2 min
30.3 min
+0.9 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
596.5
936
+57% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
3,962.2
3,627.1
+8% 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
57.3°F
58.2°F
+0.9°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
23.6 in
39.7 in
+16.1 in in Washington, DC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$6.05/gal
$4.30/gal
+29% in San Francisco, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.00
+20% in San Francisco, CA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
25.0
+25% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$18.01
+13% in San Francisco, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in San Francisco, CA
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in San Francisco, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in San Francisco, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / DC)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
10.75%
+2.6 pp in CA

San Francisco vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or Washington?
Washington, DC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,130 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% 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 Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $97,000 a year in San Francisco versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, San Francisco or Washington?
San Francisco is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).