San Francisco vs Seattle: Cost of Living & Salary Comparison
Thinking about relocating between San Francisco and Seattle? This comparison breaks down the real costs, salary differences, and what your money buys in each city.
San Francisco
Seattle
Detailed Cost Comparison
| Category | San Francisco | Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living Index | 105 | 88 | +19% (lower is better) |
| Median Salary | $95,000 | $82,000 | |
| Rent (1BR) | $3,400 | $2,400 | (/month) |
| Rent (2BR) | $4,800 | $3,400 | (/month) |
| Groceries Index | 98 | 90 | +9% (NYC=100) |
| Transport Monthly | $110 | $110 | |
| Effective Tax Rate | 30% | 25% | (at median income) |
| Purchasing Power | 108 | 105 | +3% (higher is better) |
Salary Comparison by Role
| Role | San Francisco | Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | $165,000 | $155,000 | +6% |
| Product Manager | $162,000 | $152,000 | +7% |
| Data Scientist | $162,000 | $152,000 | +7% |
| DevOps Engineer | $165,000 | $158,000 | +4% |
| Frontend Developer | $140,000 | $130,000 | +8% |
| Engineering Manager | $228,000 | $210,000 | +9% |
San Francisco Offers Better Purchasing Power
While San Francisco may have higher costs, its purchasing power index of 108 vs 105 means your money generally goes further. Higher median salaries ($95,000 vs $82,000) help offset costs.
Common Questions
Based on cost of living indices, San Francisco (105) is more expensive compared to Seattle (88), where NYC = 100.
To maintain the same standard of living, you would need approximately $84,000 in Seattle to match $100,000 in San Francisco.
San Francisco has a tech hub score of 10/10 while Seattle scores 9/10. San Francisco generally offers more tech opportunities.
Based on purchasing power, San Francisco offers better value. This accounts for both salary levels and cost of living.
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Last updated: 2026-02-19 | Data sources: Numbeo, OECD, Glassdoor, and local government statistics.