Living Cost Compare
San Francisco

California

$2,750/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 55% 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 $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 61% higher in San Francisco, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

San Francisco, CA
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,560
$1,103
+29% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$2,425
$1,024
+58% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,982
$1,213
+59% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$3,269
$1,394
+57% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,380,500
$224,500
+84% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$141,446
$55,269
+61% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$74,260
$54,310
+27% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.7 yr
37.0 yr
+2.7 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
38.5%
46.0%
+7.5 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.1%
33.1%
+27.0 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
31.2 min
23.0 min
+8.2 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
596.5
1,138.2
+91% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,962.2
3,182.4
+20% 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
54.9°F
+2.4°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
23.6 in
43.1 in
+19.4 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.43/gal
$3.86/gal
+29% in San Francisco, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
19.4
+42% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$22.51
+9% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Wilmington, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in San Francisco, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in San Francisco, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / DE)
7.25%
None
+7.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
6.60%
+6.7 pp in CA

San Francisco vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% 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 Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $97,000 a year in San Francisco versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, San Francisco or Wilmington?
San Francisco is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).