Paycheck & COL Hub

Cost of Living: San Francisco vs Los Angeles

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

Relative cost

Los Angeles is about 7% less expensive than San Francisco.

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

Equivalent salary

To have a similar standard of living in Los Angeles as someone earning $60,000 in San Francisco, you’d need approximately 55,579 USD/year in Los Angeles.

Use our Cost of Living Calculator →

How we compare San Francisco and Los Angeles

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.