Paycheck & COL Hub

Cost of Living: New York vs San Francisco

Compare cost of living between New York and San Francisco. See how much you’d need to earn in one city to match the other.

Relative cost

San Francisco is about 5% less expensive than New York.

Based on our cost-of-living indices (housing, groceries, transport, and general expenses).

Equivalent salary

To have a similar standard of living in San Francisco as someone earning $60,000 in New York, you’d need approximately 57,000 USD/year in San Francisco.

Use our Cost of Living Calculator →

How we compare New York and San Francisco

We use relative cost-of-living indices for housing, groceries, transport, and general expenses. The equivalent salary is an estimate; your own spending and lifestyle will affect the real number.