Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale vs San Francisco

Cost of Living Comparison

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$9,953
Rent (2BR) -$31,212
Net Income $28,835

To match your lifestyle in San Francisco, you'd need:

$94,034

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale 173.0
San Francisco 200.1
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale $16,669
San Francisco $8,394

San Francisco

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$9,953
Rent (2BR) -$43,248
Net Income $16,799

To match your lifestyle in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, you'd need:

$51,280

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $12,036 more per year in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale compared to San Francisco. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in San Francisco, while housing costs 39% more. The cost of living in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale is 73% above avg, while San Francisco is 100% above avg, making Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale feels like earning $94,034 in San Francisco once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, San Francisco has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in San Francisco ($21,053 vs $17,920 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale
San Francisco
Schools
2,529
980
Enrollment
1,973,265
609,672
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
2.9%
1.3%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale
San Francisco
Institutions
257
76
In-State Tuition
$21,053
$17,920
Out-of-State
$24,543
$22,099
Grad Rate
65.1%
54.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale or San Francisco more expensive?

San Francisco is more expensive with a cost of living index of 200.1 vs 173.0 (national average = 100).

What salary in San Francisco equals $70,000 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale?

You would need to earn approximately $94,034 in San Francisco to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale vs San Francisco?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $31,212 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale and $43,248 in San Francisco—housing is 39% more in San Francisco.