San Francisco, CA Cost of Living (2026)

San Francisco has a cost of living index of 163.6, about 63.6% above the national average. Housing is a major driver here, with a housing index of 254.1. Typical apartment rent is about $3,828 a month, and median home values are around $1,373,528. The median household income is approximately $136,000.

A $100,000 salary in an average-cost city buys about $61,100 worth of lifestyle in San Francisco. That usually means smaller apartments, tighter savings margins, or a longer commute if you want to keep housing costs in check. Outside housing, utilities and transportation also run above the national baseline.

One specific thing worth knowing: San Francisco's rent control covers older buildings but exempts most units built after 1979, which includes a large share of newer stock. That means tenants in newer buildings face market-rate increases without the protections many assume exist. Buyers face a median home price that has hovered above $1.2 million for most of the past decade. The monthly cost of owning a median-priced home with a standard down payment typically exceeds $6,000.

The city's high wages do exist in certain sectors, particularly tech, finance, and healthcare, but those wages are not evenly distributed. Workers in retail, food service, and care industries often earn $60,000 to $80,000 while facing the same housing market. Anyone doing salary planning here should start with the actual rent or mortgage number and work backward, rather than relying on the median income figure.