City comparison
San Francisco vs Charlotte Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Francisco (177.2) and Charlotte (108.1).
San Francisco Index
177.2
Charlotte Index
108.1
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
Charlotte Rent
$2,325
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Charlotte Home price
$406,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Francisco to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Charlotte.
Equivalent salary in Charlotte
$91,507
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Francisco and Charlotte.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Francisco | Charlotte | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 276 | 126 | -150.0 (-54.3%) |
| Groceries | 137 | 99 | -38.0 (-27.7%) |
| Transportation | 125 | 100 | -25.0 (-20.0%) |
| Healthcare | 114 | 97 | -17.0 (-14.9%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 98 | -14.0 (-12.5%) |
| Miscellaneous | 132 | 99 | -33.0 (-25.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,510 / $4,870
San Francisco / Charlotte
Couple
$14,470 / $8,080
San Francisco / Charlotte
Family
$21,280 / $11,400
San Francisco / Charlotte
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Francisco city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Francisco.
View Charlotte city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Charlotte.
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.