City comparison
San Diego vs San Francisco Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Diego (141.4) and San Francisco (177.2).
San Diego Index
141.4
San Francisco Index
177.2
San Diego Rent
$3,700
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
San Diego Home price
$738,000
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Diego to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in San Francisco.
Equivalent salary in San Francisco
$146,622
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Diego 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 | San Diego | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 194 | 276 | +82.0 (+42.3%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 137 | +15.0 (+12.3%) |
| Transportation | 109 | 125 | +16.0 (+14.7%) |
| Healthcare | 110 | 114 | +4.0 (+3.6%) |
| Utilities | 108 | 112 | +4.0 (+3.7%) |
| Miscellaneous | 118 | 132 | +14.0 (+11.9%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,650 / $8,510
San Diego / San Francisco
Couple
$11,040 / $14,470
San Diego / San Francisco
Family
$15,560 / $21,280
San Diego / San Francisco
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
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.