San Francisco vs New York City
Cost of Living (2026)

New York City is 17% more affordable than San Francisco.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

San Francisco, CA

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

New York City, NY

COL index187 ✓
State income tax6.85% ✓
Avg 1BR rent$3,400/mo ✓
Median home price$750K ✓

Cost breakdown by category

CategorySan Francisco indexNew York City indexDifference
Housing297247 ✓-50%
Groceries209175 ✓-34%
Transportation205173 ✓-32%
Healthcare215180 ✓-35%
Utilities193164 ✓-29%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost. How we calculate this →

Salary equivalency: San Francisco → New York City

What salary in New York City gives you the same purchasing power as your San Francisco salary?

Salary in San FranciscoEquivalent in New York CityDifference
$60,000$48,000$-12,000
$80,000$64,000$-16,000
$100,000$80,000$-20,000
$130,000$104,000$-26,000
$150,000$120,000$-30,000
$200,000$161,000$-39,000

San Francisco vs New York City: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between San Francisco, CA and New York City, NY, New York City comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 187 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 17%.

State income tax impact

San Francisco workers pay 9.3% California state income tax, while New York City workers pay 6.85%.

Housing costs

The median home price in San Francisco is $1,350,000, compared to $750,000 in New York City. Average 1-bedroom rent is $3,600/month in San Francisco versus $3,400/month in New York City.

San Francisco vs Houston →San Francisco vs San Antonio →San Francisco vs Dallas →San Francisco vs Austin →San Francisco vs Fort Worth →San Francisco vs El Paso →