City comparison
Portland vs San Francisco Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Portland (120.2) and San Francisco (177.2).
Portland Index
120.2
San Francisco Index
177.2
Portland Rent
$2,675
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
Portland Home price
$500,000
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Portland to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in San Francisco.
Equivalent salary in San Francisco
$141,524
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Portland 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 | Portland | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 145 | 276 | +131.0 (+90.3%) |
| Groceries | 112 | 137 | +25.0 (+22.3%) |
| Transportation | 107 | 125 | +18.0 (+16.8%) |
| Healthcare | 104 | 114 | +10.0 (+9.6%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 112 | +11.0 (+10.9%) |
| Miscellaneous | 109 | 132 | +23.0 (+21.1%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,440 / $8,510
Portland / San Francisco
Couple
$9,030 / $14,470
Portland / San Francisco
Family
$12,730 / $21,280
Portland / San Francisco
Frequently Asked Questions
Related comparisons
Portland vs Denver
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Portland and Denver.
Portland vs Austin
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Portland and Austin.
Portland vs Chicago
See salary, rent, and budget differences between Portland and Chicago.
View Portland city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Portland.
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.