City comparison
San Francisco vs New York Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Francisco (177.2) and New York (166.9).
San Francisco Index
177.2
New York Index
166.9
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
New York Rent
$4,850
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
New York Home price
$787,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Francisco to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in New York.
Equivalent salary in New York
$141,281
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Francisco and New York.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Francisco | New York | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 276 | 245 | -31.0 (-11.2%) |
| Groceries | 137 | 138 | +1.0 (+0.7%) |
| Transportation | 125 | 121 | -4.0 (-3.2%) |
| Healthcare | 114 | 117 | +3.0 (+2.6%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 112 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 132 | 134 | +2.0 (+1.5%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,510 / $8,110
San Francisco / New York
Couple
$14,470 / $13,620
San Francisco / New York
Family
$21,280 / $19,870
San Francisco / New York
Frequently Asked Questions
Related comparisons
San Francisco vs Los Angeles
See salary, rent, and budget differences between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
San Francisco vs Boston
See salary, rent, and budget differences between San Francisco and Boston.
San Francisco vs Washington
See salary, rent, and budget differences between San Francisco and Washington.
View San Francisco city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Francisco.
View New York city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for New York.
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.