San Francisco vs San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Cost of Living Comparison
San Francisco
To match your lifestyle in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, you'd need:
$69,465
The Verdict
Cost of Living Index
Purchasing Power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
To match your lifestyle in San Francisco, you'd need:
$70,503
The Bottom Line
On a $70,000 salary, you would have $1,452 more per year in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara compared to San Francisco. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, while housing costs 3% less. The cost of living in San Francisco is 100% above avg, while San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is 113% above avg, making San Francisco the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in San Francisco feels like earning $69,465 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($17,920 vs $14,833 avg in-state tuition).
K-12 Schools
Colleges & Universities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Francisco or San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara more expensive?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara is more expensive with a cost of living index of 213.0 vs 200.1 (national average = 100).
What salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara equals $70,000 in San Francisco?
You would need to earn approximately $69,465 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in San Francisco, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.
How much is rent in San Francisco vs San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $43,248 in San Francisco and $41,796 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara—housing is 3% less in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara.