Cost of living, San Francisco
115.6
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). San Francisco sits about 15.6% above national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- +15.6%
- Metro
- San Francisco
- CBSA
- 41860
San Francisco all-items RPP is 115.6 (2024), about 15.6% above US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $104,040 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in San Francisco
| Component | San Francisco | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 115.6 | 100 |
| Goods | 108.5 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 194.7 | 100 |
| Other services | 106.2 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in San Francisco
| At US average | In San Francisco |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $69,360 |
| $90,000 | $104,040 |
| $150,000 | $173,400 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (115.6 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in San Francisco?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is 115.6, versus a US average of 100 (+15.6%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $104,040 in San Francisco for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Physicians, All Other , 3,530 OEWS emp. $294,360
- Chief Executives , 5,190 OEWS emp. $288,690
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 23,830 OEWS emp. $232,890
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 5,000 OEWS emp. $221,580
- Marketing Managers , 11,170 OEWS emp. $220,480
- Nurse Practitioners , 3,110 OEWS emp. $219,080
See methodology and disclaimer.