City comparison
San Francisco vs Atlanta Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Francisco (177.2) and Atlanta (110.5).
San Francisco Index
177.2
Atlanta Index
110.5
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
Atlanta Rent
$2,375
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Atlanta Home price
$410,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Francisco to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Atlanta.
Equivalent salary in Atlanta
$93,538
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Francisco and Atlanta.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Francisco | Atlanta | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 276 | 129 | -147.0 (-53.3%) |
| Groceries | 137 | 101 | -36.0 (-26.3%) |
| Transportation | 125 | 103 | -22.0 (-17.6%) |
| Healthcare | 114 | 97 | -17.0 (-14.9%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 100 | -12.0 (-10.7%) |
| Miscellaneous | 132 | 102 | -30.0 (-22.7%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,510 / $4,990
San Francisco / Atlanta
Couple
$14,470 / $8,280
San Francisco / Atlanta
Family
$21,280 / $11,680
San Francisco / Atlanta
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Francisco city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Francisco.
View Atlanta city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Atlanta.
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.