salarySan Diego is 3% cheaperBased on official 2024 price levels from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
I need in San Francisco to live the same way.
🏠 Rent per month
$3,011
$3,201
🛏️ 2-bedroom rent
$2,589
$3,312
💵 Families earn per year
$116,561
$152,036
🔑 Buying a house
$906,700
$1,394,500
📊 Overall prices (U.S. = 100)
111.9
115.6
🏛️ Property tax per year
$5,945
$9,862
⚡ Electric bill per month
$131
$104
👥 People living there
1,389,526
830,235
Commute to work
23.5 min
30.4 min
College degree
51%
60.3%
Own their home
47.3%
38.2%
Below poverty line
11%
11.2%
Unemployment
6%
6.1%
Bottom line
- Pick San Diego for lower rent, cheaper 2-bedroom apartments, cheaper homes and 3 more.
- Pick San Francisco for higher incomes, a more educated workforce.
Pay for the same job
| Job | San Diego | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefighter | $70,900 | $113,700 | +60% in San Francisco |
| Market Research Analyst | $79,440 | $123,250 | +55% in San Francisco |
| Registered Nurse | $139,520 | $186,610 | +34% in San Francisco |
| Nurse Practitioner | $163,860 | $219,080 | +34% in San Francisco |
| Operations Manager | $119,600 | $149,990 | +25% in San Francisco |
| Electrician | $76,160 | $92,830 | +22% in San Francisco |
| Carpenter | $73,200 | $89,200 | +22% in San Francisco |
| Medical Assistant | $49,420 | $59,790 | +21% in San Francisco |
Frequently asked questions
Is San Diego or San Francisco cheaper to live in?
San Diego is about 3% cheaper overall. Rent is $3,011 a month there versus $3,201 in San Francisco.
What salary do I need in San Francisco to match $60,000 in San Diego?
About $61,998 a year gives the same standard of living in San Francisco.
Where do people earn more, San Diego or San Francisco?
The typical household earns $116,561 in San Diego and $152,036 in San Francisco, 23% more in San Francisco.
More comparisons
All San Diego comparisons → · All San Francisco comparisons →