Atlanta, GA vs San Francisco, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, San Francisco, CA is 15.5% more expensive than Atlanta, GA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Atlanta works out to about $86,700 in San Francisco, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 75.4% more in San Francisco. Goods are 8.0% higher and other services 9.8% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 79.3% higher in San Francisco.
- Typical asking rent is $3,445 a month in San Francisco and $1,843 in Atlanta, $19,224 a year more in San Francisco (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $1,120,000 in San Francisco and $376,000 in Atlanta.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when San Francisco was 22.0% more expensive than Atlanta.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 75.4% higher in San Francisco than in Atlanta
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Atlanta, GA
- San Francisco, CA
All items Atlanta, GA: 100.1 San Francisco, CA: 115.6
Goods Atlanta, GA: 100.4 San Francisco, CA: 108.5
Housing (rents) Atlanta, GA: 111.0 San Francisco, CA: 194.7
Utilities Atlanta, GA: 96.2 San Francisco, CA: 172.6
Other services Atlanta, GA: 96.7 San Francisco, CA: 106.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.1 | 115.6 |
| Goods | 100.4 | 108.5 |
| Housing (rents) | 111.0 | 194.7 |
| Utilities | 96.2 | 172.6 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 106.2 |
| Category | Atlanta | San Francisco | San Francisco vs Atlanta |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.1 | 115.6 | +15.5% |
| Goods | 100.4 | 108.5 | +8.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 111.0 | 194.7 | +75.4% |
| Utilities | 96.2 | 172.6 | +79.3% |
| Other services | 96.7 | 106.2 | +9.8% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,843 | $3,445 | +86.9% |
| Typical home value | $376,000 | $1,120,000 | +198.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Atlanta | $75,000 | $86,700 | +15.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Atlanta and San Francisco has narrowed since 2008: 21.0 points then, 15.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Atlanta, GA
- San Francisco, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.1 | 119.1 |
| 2009 | 95.1 | 115.2 |
| 2010 | 98.3 | 113.9 |
| 2011 | 96.5 | 112.4 |
| 2012 | 99.2 | 112.5 |
| 2013 | 98.3 | 112.9 |
| 2014 | 98.5 | 114.0 |
| 2015 | 98.1 | 115.8 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 116.4 |
| 2017 | 99.4 | 121.6 |
| 2018 | 98.2 | 122.3 |
| 2019 | 98.1 | 119.7 |
| 2020 | 98.7 | 119.6 |
| 2021 | 99.0 | 120.0 |
| 2022 | 98.6 | 118.0 |
| 2023 | 100.5 | 117.6 |
| 2024 | 100.1 | 115.6 |
Goods
- Atlanta, GA
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.9 | 117.8 |
| 2009 | 97.7 | 110.0 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 107.0 |
| 2011 | 97.8 | 105.5 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 108.0 |
| 2013 | 99.8 | 109.9 |
| 2014 | 99.4 | 108.8 |
| 2015 | 99.4 | 111.4 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 111.2 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 114.0 |
| 2018 | 99.0 | 116.2 |
| 2019 | 97.0 | 113.8 |
| 2020 | 97.1 | 113.0 |
| 2021 | 97.1 | 113.8 |
| 2022 | 99.1 | 114.4 |
| 2023 | 98.5 | 115.2 |
| 2024 | 100.4 | 108.5 |
Housing (rents)
- Atlanta, GA
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.6 | 191.0 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 192.1 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 189.2 |
| 2011 | 96.0 | 191.9 |
| 2012 | 95.4 | 189.0 |
| 2013 | 94.0 | 190.7 |
| 2014 | 95.0 | 198.1 |
| 2015 | 96.0 | 204.5 |
| 2016 | 98.3 | 210.4 |
| 2017 | 98.8 | 215.2 |
| 2018 | 98.9 | 219.7 |
| 2019 | 99.6 | 213.0 |
| 2020 | 102.7 | 227.1 |
| 2021 | 105.5 | 213.5 |
| 2022 | 107.3 | 206.3 |
| 2023 | 110.9 | 200.1 |
| 2024 | 111.0 | 194.7 |
Utilities
- Atlanta, GA
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.8 | 115.6 |
| 2009 | 92.9 | 115.7 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 118.5 |
| 2011 | 103.3 | 113.2 |
| 2012 | 101.8 | 110.3 |
| 2013 | 101.3 | 130.1 |
| 2014 | 98.5 | 135.1 |
| 2015 | 101.9 | 142.5 |
| 2016 | 102.4 | 145.5 |
| 2017 | 105.1 | 152.4 |
| 2018 | 98.9 | 158.4 |
| 2019 | 101.7 | 162.8 |
| 2020 | 101.3 | 161.3 |
| 2021 | 100.0 | 167.0 |
| 2022 | 102.2 | 170.4 |
| 2023 | 96.9 | 162.2 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 172.6 |
Other services
- Atlanta, GA
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.6 | 107.0 |
| 2009 | 91.5 | 104.0 |
| 2010 | 100.2 | 104.1 |
| 2011 | 95.2 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 102.2 |
| 2013 | 98.4 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 99.0 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 97.5 | 104.3 |
| 2016 | 98.0 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | 99.5 | 111.0 |
| 2018 | 97.4 | 110.8 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 108.6 |
| 2020 | 98.7 | 105.2 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 108.2 |
| 2022 | 95.5 | 105.9 |
| 2023 | 99.0 | 105.4 |
| 2024 | 96.7 | 106.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $3,445 in San Francisco vs $1,843 in Atlanta
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Atlanta, GA
- San Francisco, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | San Francisco, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $995 | $2,247 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,024 | $2,348 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,033 | $2,413 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,038 | $2,413 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,055 | $2,448 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,080 | $2,505 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,092 | $2,507 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,095 | $2,467 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,118 | $2,518 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,152 | $2,570 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,165 | $2,597 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,165 | $2,583 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,191 | $2,614 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,222 | $2,663 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,228 | $2,687 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,245 | $2,675 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,268 | $2,703 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,298 | $2,742 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,309 | $2,761 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,304 | $2,744 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,324 | $2,768 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,342 | $2,732 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,378 | $2,618 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,394 | $2,520 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,445 | $2,549 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,528 | $2,647 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,638 | $2,739 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,662 | $2,732 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,681 | $2,797 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,734 | $2,863 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,767 | $2,887 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,739 | $2,830 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,754 | $2,859 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,766 | $2,874 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,766 | $2,878 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,733 | $2,831 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,751 | $2,869 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,768 | $2,913 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,770 | $2,926 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,751 | $2,915 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,780 | $2,975 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,793 | $3,041 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,805 | $3,082 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,790 | $3,084 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,800 | $3,161 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,826 | $3,291 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,843 | $3,445 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $1,120,000 in San Francisco vs $376,000 in Atlanta
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Atlanta, GA
- San Francisco, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Atlanta, GA | San Francisco, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $176K | $669K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $179K | $693K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $183K | $715K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $187K | $739K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $191K | $765K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $195K | $770K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $197K | $765K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $201K | $774K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $206K | $794K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $210K | $809K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $213K | $821K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $218K | $848K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $224K | $881K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $228K | $905K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $233K | $912K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $237K | $914K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $242K | $905K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $244K | $901K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $246K | $906K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $250K | $912K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $256K | $926K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $257K | $926K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $263K | $934K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $275K | $972K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $289K | $1.01M | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $306K | $1.06M | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $320K | $1.09M | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $336K | $1.11M | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $360K | $1.18M | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $381K | $1.22M | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $384K | $1.16M | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $379K | $1.11M | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $376K | $1.07M | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $379K | $1.08M | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $385K | $1.1M | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $388K | $1.1M | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $391K | $1.1M | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $394K | $1.13M | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $394K | $1.13M | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $392K | $1.13M | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $389K | $1.12M | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $384K | $1.1M | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $382K | $1.09M | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $381K | $1.1M | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $379K | $1.1M | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $377K | $1.11M | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $376K | $1.12M | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Atlanta, GA
- Cost of living in San Francisco, CA
- Reverse: moving from San Francisco to Atlanta
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.