San Francisco vs Arlington
Cost of Living (2026)

Arlington is 58% more affordable than San Francisco. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs California's 9.3%.

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At a glance

San Francisco, CA

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

Arlington, TX

COL index94 ✓
State income taxNone ✓
Avg 1BR rent$1,280/mo ✓
Median home price$310K ✓

Cost breakdown by category

CategorySan Francisco indexArlington indexDifference
Housing297122 ✓-175%
Groceries20989 ✓-120%
Transportation20591 ✓-114%
Healthcare21591 ✓-124%
Utilities19391 ✓-102%

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

Salary equivalency: San Francisco → Arlington

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

Salary in San FranciscoEquivalent in ArlingtonDifference
$60,000$22,000$-38,000
$80,000$29,000$-51,000
$100,000$36,000$-64,000
$130,000$47,000$-83,000
$150,000$55,000$-95,000
$200,000$73,000$-127,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between San Francisco, CA and Arlington, TX, Arlington comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 94 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 58%.

State income tax impact

Texas has no state income tax, giving Arlington workers an immediate 9.3% take-home pay advantage over San Francisco workers who pay California's 9.3% state income tax.

Housing costs

The median home price in San Francisco is $1,350,000, compared to $310,000 in Arlington. Average 1-bedroom rent is $3,600/month in San Francisco versus $1,280/month in Arlington.

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