San Francisco vs Seattle
San Francisco, CA · Seattle, WA
Seattle is 27% cheaper than San Francisco overall.
Home Price
San: $1,350,000
Seattle: $780,000
Monthly Rent
San: $3,498/mo
Seattle: $1,800/mo
COL Index
San: 214
Seattle: 156
Median Income
San: $131,000
Seattle: $102,900
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 San Francisco has the same purchasing power as $72,897 in Seattle — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Seattle cost 42% more (-$570,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Seattle saves you $1,698/month — $20,376 per year. Median rent: $3,498/mo in San Francisco vs $1,800/mo in Seattle.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, San Francisco owners pay roughly $8,505/year in property taxes vs $7,176/year in Seattle. That's a $1,329 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $131,000 in San Francisco and $102,900 in Seattle. Seattle residents earn 21% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 34 minutes in San Francisco vs 30 minutes in Seattle. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from San Francisco to Seattle, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in San Francisco | Equivalent in Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $36,449 | -$13,551 |
| $75,000 | $54,673 | -$20,327 |
| $100,000 | $72,897 | -$27,103 |
| $150,000 | $109,346 | -$40,654 |
| $200,000 | $145,794 | -$54,206 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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San Francisco Calculators
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Related Comparisons
San Francisco vs Seattle: Common Questions
Is San Francisco or Seattle cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Seattle is cheaper overall. San Francisco has a COL index of 214 while Seattle scores 156 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between San Francisco and Seattle?
The median home price in San Francisco is $1,350,000 vs $780,000 in Seattle — a difference of $570,000 (42%).
What salary do I need in Seattle to match my San Francisco income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in San Francisco is equivalent to $72,897 in Seattle in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
San Francisco has a lower property tax rate (0.63% vs 0.92%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $7,176/year vs $8,505/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.