Denver vs San Francisco
Cost of Living (2026)

Denver is 90% less expensive than San Francisco.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

Denver, CO

COL index118 ✓
State income tax4.55% ✓
Avg 1BR rent$1,800/mo ✓
Median home price$545K ✓
VS

San Francisco, CA

COL index224
State income tax9.3%
Avg 1BR rent$3,600/mo
Median home price$1350K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryDenver indexSan Francisco indexDifference
Housing154 ✓297+143%
Groceries112 ✓209+97%
Transportation112 ✓205+93%
Healthcare114 ✓215+101%
Utilities110 ✓193+83%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost.

Salary equivalency: Denver → San Francisco

What salary in San Francisco gives you the same purchasing power as your Denver salary?

Salary in DenverEquivalent in San FranciscoDifference
$60,000$123,000+$63,000
$80,000$164,000+$84,000
$100,000$205,000+$105,000
$130,000$266,000+$136,000
$150,000$307,000+$157,000
$200,000$409,000+$209,000

Denver vs San Francisco: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Denver, CO and San Francisco, CA, Denver comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 118 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 90%.

State income tax impact

Denver workers pay 4.55% Colorado state income tax, while San Francisco workers pay 9.3%.

Housing costs

The median home price in Denver is $545,000, compared to $1,350,000 in San Francisco. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,800/month in Denver versus $3,600/month in San Francisco.

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