Seattle vs San Francisco
Cost of Living (2026)

Seattle is 49% less expensive than San Francisco. Plus, Washington has no state income tax vs California's 9.3%.

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At a glance

Seattle, WA

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

San Francisco, CA

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

Cost breakdown by category

CategorySeattle indexSan Francisco indexDifference
Housing198 ✓297+99%
Groceries141 ✓209+68%
Transportation140 ✓205+65%
Healthcare145 ✓215+70%
Utilities135 ✓193+58%

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

Salary equivalency: Seattle → San Francisco

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

Salary in SeattleEquivalent in San FranciscoDifference
$60,000$103,000+$43,000
$80,000$138,000+$58,000
$100,000$172,000+$72,000
$130,000$224,000+$94,000
$150,000$258,000+$108,000
$200,000$344,000+$144,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between Seattle, WA and San Francisco, CA, Seattle comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 150 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 49%.

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 Seattle is $780,000, compared to $1,350,000 in San Francisco. Average 1-bedroom rent is $2,200/month in Seattle versus $3,600/month in San Francisco.

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