City comparison
New York vs San Francisco Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between New York (166.9) and San Francisco (177.2).
New York Index
166.9
San Francisco Index
177.2
New York Rent
$4,850
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
New York Home price
$787,000
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in New York to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in San Francisco.
Equivalent salary in San Francisco
$151,825
Based on the relative overall cost of living between New York 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 | New York | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 245 | 276 | +31.0 (+12.7%) |
| Groceries | 138 | 137 | -1.0 (-0.7%) |
| Transportation | 121 | 125 | +4.0 (+3.3%) |
| Healthcare | 117 | 114 | -3.0 (-2.6%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 112 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 134 | 132 | -2.0 (-1.5%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,110 / $8,510
New York / San Francisco
Couple
$13,620 / $14,470
New York / San Francisco
Family
$19,870 / $21,280
New York / San Francisco
Frequently Asked Questions
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View New York city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for New York.
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.