Los Angeles vs San Francisco

Salary & cost of living comparison

Metric
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Median Salary
$68,000
$95,000
Rent (1BR)
$2,600
$3,400
Rent (2BR)
$3,700
$4,800
CoL Index
90
105
Groceries
92
98
Transport
$110
$110
Tax Rate
27%
30%
Tech Hub
8/10
10/10

Cost of Living Ratio

1.17

San Francisco is more expensive

Rent Ratio

1.31

Salary Equivalent Ratio

1.17

💰 Salary Equivalents

Enter your salary to see the equivalent:

$
in Los Angeles = in San Francisco

Common salary equivalents:

$50k in Los Angeles = $59k in San Francisco
$80k in Los Angeles = $94k in San Francisco
$100k in Los Angeles = $117k in San Francisco
$120k in Los Angeles = $140k in San Francisco
$150k in Los Angeles = $176k in San Francisco
$200k in Los Angeles = $234k in San Francisco

📈 Monthly Budget Breakdown

Los Angeles

$4,366/mo net

60%
9%
20%
Rent $2,600 Groceries $414 Transport $110 Utilities $135 Leisure $225 Savings $882

San Francisco

$5,964/mo net

57%
27%
Rent $3,400 Groceries $441 Transport $110 Utilities $158 Leisure $263 Savings $1,592

Frequently Asked Questions

No, San Francisco is approximately 17% more expensive than Los Angeles based on overall cost of living index.
To maintain the same standard of living as a $100,000 salary in Los Angeles, you would need approximately $117,000 in San Francisco.
Los Angeles has a lower effective tax rate. Los Angeles has an effective rate of 27% while San Francisco has 30%.
San Francisco ranks higher for tech workers with a tech hub score of 10/10 compared to 8/10.

🔗 Related Comparisons