City comparison
Austin vs San Francisco Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Austin (116.9) and San Francisco (177.2).
Austin Index
116.9
San Francisco Index
177.2
Austin Rent
$2,675
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
Austin Home price
$484,000
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Austin to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in San Francisco.
Equivalent salary in San Francisco
$142,488
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Austin and San Francisco.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Austin | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 146 | 276 | +130.0 (+89.0%) |
| Groceries | 103 | 137 | +34.0 (+33.0%) |
| Transportation | 102 | 125 | +23.0 (+22.5%) |
| Healthcare | 99 | 114 | +15.0 (+15.2%) |
| Utilities | 98 | 112 | +14.0 (+14.3%) |
| Miscellaneous | 104 | 132 | +28.0 (+26.9%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,310 / $8,510
Austin / San Francisco
Couple
$8,810 / $14,470
Austin / San Francisco
Family
$12,430 / $21,280
Austin / San Francisco
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Austin city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Austin.
View San Francisco city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Francisco.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.