Cost of Living in San Francisco, CA
Is it worth moving here?
How far does a $70,000 salary go in San Francisco? Estimated income taxes on that gross salary total approximately $9,953 per year — combining federal taxes with California's state income tax. Subtract rent for a 2-bedroom apartment ($3,604/month based on HUD Fair Market Rents for the San Francisco metro area) and the estimated annual take-home is $16,799, or roughly $1,400 per month for everything else: food, transportation, savings, and discretionary spending.
The San Francisco metro has a cost of living index of 200.1 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (national average = 100). At 100% above average, San Francisco is a noticeably expensive metro — groceries, services, and everyday purchases cost more than in most of the country.
At a $70,000 salary, the estimated 2-bedroom rent in San Francisco represents approximately 62% of gross income. That is well above what most financial advisors recommend, indicating that San Francisco is a financial stretch at a $70,000 salary without roommates or a higher-earning household.
Annual Breakdown
Cost of Living Index
Living in San Francisco, CA is roughly 100% more expensive than the national average.
Monthly Take-Home
... / mo
Affordability Score
K-12 Schools
See Details →Colleges & Universities
See Details →| Institution | Enrollment | In-State Tuition | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Berkeley | 45,699 | $11,834 | 93.0% |
| Minerva University | 656 | $18,700 | 89.0% |
| Urban Barber College | 163 | $0 | 86.0% |
| Hilltop Beauty School | 79 | $0 | 86.0% |
| Unitek College | 255 | $0 | 85.0% |
| Dominican University of California | 2,026 | $49,821 | 76.0% |
| Lincoln University | 474 | $11,400 | 75.0% |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College | 337 | $0 | 75.0% |
| Unitek College | 326 | $0 | 75.0% |
| Unitek College | 5,191 | $0 | 72.0% |
| University of San Francisco | 9,212 | $57,670 | 71.0% |
| National Holistic Institute | 1,134 | $0 | 70.0% |
| San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc | 202 | $0 | 70.0% |
| Saint Mary's College of California | 2,775 | $55,634 | 69.0% |
| Mt. Diablo Adult Education-Mt. Diablo USD | 153 | $0 | 69.0% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-East Bay | 212 | $0 | 61.0% |
| Cinta Aveda Institute | 95 | $0 | 60.0% |
| California College of the Arts | 1,333 | $57,096 | 59.0% |
| College of San Mateo | 9,208 | $1,288 | 57.0% |
| Ohlone College | 8,375 | $1,104 | 55.0% |
| Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus | 432 | $0 | 55.0% |
| Carrington College-San Leandro Campus | 401 | $0 | 55.0% |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music | 403 | $52,800 | 52.0% |
| Menlo College | 840 | $50,190 | 51.0% |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Fremont | 256 | $16,520 | 51.0% |
| San Francisco State University | 23,908 | $5,742 | 50.0% |
| International College of Cosmetology | 125 | $0 | 50.0% |
| California Jazz Conservatory | 20 | $23,600 | 50.0% |
| Canada College | 6,141 | $1,288 | 49.0% |
| Las Positas College | 7,448 | $1,104 | 48.0% |
| Diablo Valley College | 16,424 | $1,288 | 46.0% |
| California State University-East Bay | 13,333 | $5,742 | 46.0% |
| Moler Barber College | 335 | $0 | 45.0% |
| Chabot College | 12,218 | $1,104 | 41.0% |
| Skyline College | 9,428 | $1,288 | 41.0% |
| Berkeley City College | 6,547 | $1,104 | 41.0% |
| City College of San Francisco | 17,808 | $0 | 40.0% |
| Academy of Art University | 6,320 | $27,024 | 40.0% |
| J D Academy of Salon and Spa | 106 | $0 | 40.0% |
| Los Medanos College | 8,230 | $1,288 | 39.0% |
| Laney College | 10,211 | $1,104 | 36.0% |
| College of Marin | 4,673 | $1,380 | 36.0% |
| College of Alameda | 5,833 | $1,104 | 34.0% |
| Contra Costa College | 5,997 | $1,288 | 33.0% |
| Notre Dame de Namur University | 237 | $15,792 | 32.0% |
| Bay Area Medical Academy | 159 | $0 | 32.0% |
| Merritt College | 6,716 | $1,104 | 21.0% |
| San Francisco Film School | 141 | $0 | 21.0% |
| University of California-San Francisco | 3,126 | $0 | — |
| Golden Gate University | 2,262 | $11,088 | — |
| California Institute of Integral Studies | 2,047 | $21,854 | — |
| Samuel Merritt University | 1,894 | $49,136 | — |
| Reach University | 1,358 | $12,374 | — |
| University of California College of the Law-San Francisco | 1,216 | $0 | — |
| Northeastern University Oakland | 658 | $62,000 | — |
| Life Chiropractic College West | 613 | $0 | — |
| The Wright Institute | 511 | $0 | — |
| Alder Graduate School of Education | 453 | $0 | — |
| San Francisco Bay University | 328 | $7,920 | — |
| Graduate Theological Union | 178 | $0 | — |
| San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork | 131 | $0 | — |
| Pacific School of Religion | 128 | $0 | — |
| Berkeley School of Theology | 126 | $2,856 | — |
| Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences | 122 | $0 | — |
| Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-Berkeley | 119 | $0 | — |
| Presidio Graduate School | 103 | $0 | — |
| Starr King School for the Ministry | 73 | $0 | — |
| Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology | 66 | $0 | — |
| Church Divinity School of the Pacific | 54 | $0 | — |
| Institute of Buddhist Studies | 50 | $0 | — |