City comparison
Boston vs San Francisco Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Boston (144.3) and San Francisco (177.2).
Boston Index
144.3
San Francisco Index
177.2
Boston Rent
$3,775
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
Boston Home price
$722,000
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Boston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in San Francisco.
Equivalent salary in San Francisco
$147,360
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Boston 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 | Boston | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 198 | 276 | +78.0 (+39.4%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 137 | +15.0 (+12.3%) |
| Transportation | 114 | 125 | +11.0 (+9.6%) |
| Healthcare | 113 | 114 | +1.0 (+0.9%) |
| Utilities | 106 | 112 | +6.0 (+5.7%) |
| Miscellaneous | 121 | 132 | +11.0 (+9.1%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,790 / $8,510
Boston / San Francisco
Couple
$11,270 / $14,470
Boston / San Francisco
Family
$15,890 / $21,280
Boston / San Francisco
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Boston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Boston.
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.