San Francisco vs Seattle
Cost of Living (2026)

Seattle is 33% more affordable than San Francisco. Plus, Washington 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

Seattle, WA

COL index150 ✓
State income taxNone ✓
Avg 1BR rent$2,200/mo ✓
Median home price$780K ✓

Cost breakdown by category

CategorySan Francisco indexSeattle indexDifference
Housing297198 ✓-99%
Groceries209141 ✓-68%
Transportation205140 ✓-65%
Healthcare215145 ✓-70%
Utilities193135 ✓-58%

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

Salary equivalency: San Francisco → Seattle

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

Salary in San FranciscoEquivalent in SeattleDifference
$60,000$35,000$-25,000
$80,000$46,000$-34,000
$100,000$58,000$-42,000
$130,000$76,000$-54,000
$150,000$87,000$-63,000
$200,000$116,000$-84,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA, Seattle comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 150 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 33%.

State income tax impact

Washington has no state income tax, giving Seattle 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 $780,000 in Seattle. Average 1-bedroom rent is $3,600/month in San Francisco versus $2,200/month in Seattle.

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