New York vs San Francisco
New York, NY · San Francisco, CA
New York is 14% cheaper than San Francisco overall.
Home Price
New: $750,000
San: $1,350,000
Monthly Rent
New: $3,600/mo
San: $3,498/mo
COL Index
New: 187
San: 214
Median Income
New: $76,607
San: $131,000
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in New York has the same purchasing power as $114,439 in San Francisco — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in San Francisco are 80% cheaper (-$600,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in San Francisco saves you $102/month — $1,224 per year. Median rent: $3,600/mo in New York vs $3,498/mo in San Francisco.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, New York owners pay roughly $12,750/year in property taxes vs $8,505/year in San Francisco. That's a $4,245 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $76,607 in New York and $131,000 in San Francisco. New York residents earn 71% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 36 minutes in New York vs 34 minutes in San Francisco. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from New York to San Francisco, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in New York | Equivalent in San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $57,219 | +$7,219 |
| $75,000 | $85,829 | +$10,829 |
| $100,000 | $114,439 | +$14,439 |
| $150,000 | $171,658 | +$21,658 |
| $200,000 | $228,877 | +$28,877 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
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Cost of Living
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Property Tax Calculator
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New York Calculators
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New York vs San Francisco: Common Questions
Is New York or San Francisco cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, New York is cheaper overall. New York has a COL index of 187 while San Francisco scores 214 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between New York and San Francisco?
The median home price in New York is $750,000 vs $1,350,000 in San Francisco — a difference of $600,000 (80%).
What salary do I need in San Francisco to match my New York income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in New York is equivalent to $114,439 in San Francisco in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
San Francisco has a lower property tax rate (0.63% vs 1.7%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $8,505/year vs $12,750/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.