City comparison
San Francisco vs Phoenix Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Francisco (177.2) and Phoenix (113.5).
San Francisco Index
177.2
Phoenix Index
113.5
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
Phoenix Rent
$2,525
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Phoenix Home price
$459,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Francisco to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Phoenix.
Equivalent salary in Phoenix
$96,078
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Francisco and Phoenix.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Francisco | Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 276 | 136 | -140.0 (-50.7%) |
| Groceries | 137 | 101 | -36.0 (-26.3%) |
| Transportation | 125 | 103 | -22.0 (-17.6%) |
| Healthcare | 114 | 98 | -16.0 (-14.0%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 108 | -4.0 (-3.6%) |
| Miscellaneous | 132 | 101 | -31.0 (-23.5%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,510 / $5,160
San Francisco / Phoenix
Couple
$14,470 / $8,570
San Francisco / Phoenix
Family
$21,280 / $12,070
San Francisco / Phoenix
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Francisco city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Francisco.
View Phoenix city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Phoenix.
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.