City comparison
San Francisco vs Denver Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Francisco (177.2) and Denver (123.4).
San Francisco Index
177.2
Denver Index
123.4
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
Denver Rent
$2,900
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Denver Home price
$549,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Francisco to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Denver.
Equivalent salary in Denver
$104,458
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Francisco and Denver.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Francisco | Denver | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 276 | 159 | -117.0 (-42.4%) |
| Groceries | 137 | 108 | -29.0 (-21.2%) |
| Transportation | 125 | 105 | -20.0 (-16.0%) |
| Healthcare | 114 | 102 | -12.0 (-10.5%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 97 | -15.0 (-13.4%) |
| Miscellaneous | 132 | 108 | -24.0 (-18.2%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,510 / $5,610
San Francisco / Denver
Couple
$14,470 / $9,310
San Francisco / Denver
Family
$21,280 / $13,130
San Francisco / Denver
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Francisco city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Francisco.
View Denver city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Denver.
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.