Detroit, MI 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 15.3% more expensive than Detroit, MI (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Detroit works out to about $86,500 in San Francisco, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 105.6% more in San Francisco. Goods are 9.8% higher and other services 3.5% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 61.3% higher in San Francisco.
- Typical asking rent is $3,445 a month in San Francisco and $1,514 in Detroit, $23,172 a year more in San Francisco (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $1,120,000 in San Francisco and $264,000 in Detroit.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when San Francisco was 21.6% more expensive than Detroit.
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: 105.6% higher in San Francisco than in Detroit
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Detroit, MI
- San Francisco, CA
All items Detroit, MI: 100.3 San Francisco, CA: 115.6
Goods Detroit, MI: 98.8 San Francisco, CA: 108.5
Housing (rents) Detroit, MI: 94.7 San Francisco, CA: 194.7
Utilities Detroit, MI: 107.0 San Francisco, CA: 172.6
Other services Detroit, MI: 102.6 San Francisco, CA: 106.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.3 | 115.6 |
| Goods | 98.8 | 108.5 |
| Housing (rents) | 94.7 | 194.7 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 172.6 |
| Other services | 102.6 | 106.2 |
| Category | Detroit | San Francisco | San Francisco vs Detroit |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.3 | 115.6 | +15.3% |
| Goods | 98.8 | 108.5 | +9.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 94.7 | 194.7 | +105.6% |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 172.6 | +61.3% |
| Other services | 102.6 | 106.2 | +3.5% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,514 | $3,445 | +127.5% |
| Typical home value | $264,000 | $1,120,000 | +323.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Detroit | $75,000 | $86,500 | +15.3% |
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 Detroit and San Francisco has narrowed since 2008: 18.5 points then, 15.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Detroit, MI
- 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
| Detroit, MI | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.6 | 119.1 |
| 2009 | 100.2 | 115.2 |
| 2010 | 99.4 | 113.9 |
| 2011 | 98.5 | 112.4 |
| 2012 | 97.9 | 112.5 |
| 2013 | 98.4 | 112.9 |
| 2014 | 98.7 | 114.0 |
| 2015 | 96.9 | 115.8 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 116.4 |
| 2017 | 95.8 | 121.6 |
| 2018 | 97.3 | 122.3 |
| 2019 | 98.4 | 119.7 |
| 2020 | 98.3 | 119.6 |
| 2021 | 96.4 | 120.0 |
| 2022 | 96.3 | 118.0 |
| 2023 | 98.2 | 117.6 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 115.6 |
Goods
- Detroit, MI
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.9 | 117.8 |
| 2009 | 102.1 | 110.0 |
| 2010 | 100.4 | 107.0 |
| 2011 | 101.0 | 105.5 |
| 2012 | 99.5 | 108.0 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 109.9 |
| 2014 | 99.5 | 108.8 |
| 2015 | 98.2 | 111.4 |
| 2016 | 99.1 | 111.2 |
| 2017 | 99.5 | 114.0 |
| 2018 | 100.1 | 116.2 |
| 2019 | 96.5 | 113.8 |
| 2020 | 98.7 | 113.0 |
| 2021 | 95.1 | 113.8 |
| 2022 | 94.7 | 114.4 |
| 2023 | 97.9 | 115.2 |
| 2024 | 98.8 | 108.5 |
Housing (rents)
- Detroit, MI
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.4 | 191.0 |
| 2009 | 98.0 | 192.1 |
| 2010 | 100.3 | 189.2 |
| 2011 | 95.3 | 191.9 |
| 2012 | 96.4 | 189.0 |
| 2013 | 95.7 | 190.7 |
| 2014 | 95.7 | 198.1 |
| 2015 | 93.5 | 204.5 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 210.4 |
| 2017 | 95.2 | 215.2 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 219.7 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 213.0 |
| 2020 | 95.7 | 227.1 |
| 2021 | 90.3 | 213.5 |
| 2022 | 94.2 | 206.3 |
| 2023 | 93.1 | 200.1 |
| 2024 | 94.7 | 194.7 |
Utilities
- Detroit, MI
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.9 | 115.6 |
| 2009 | 107.7 | 115.7 |
| 2010 | 107.2 | 118.5 |
| 2011 | 108.2 | 113.2 |
| 2012 | 109.7 | 110.3 |
| 2013 | 109.6 | 130.1 |
| 2014 | 103.5 | 135.1 |
| 2015 | 103.9 | 142.5 |
| 2016 | 104.3 | 145.5 |
| 2017 | 105.7 | 152.4 |
| 2018 | 104.8 | 158.4 |
| 2019 | 100.7 | 162.8 |
| 2020 | 106.0 | 161.3 |
| 2021 | 102.1 | 167.0 |
| 2022 | 101.9 | 170.4 |
| 2023 | 106.8 | 162.2 |
| 2024 | 107.0 | 172.6 |
Other services
- Detroit, MI
- San Francisco, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Detroit, MI | San Francisco, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.2 | 107.0 |
| 2009 | 99.2 | 104.0 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 104.1 |
| 2011 | 97.4 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 96.6 | 102.2 |
| 2013 | 97.5 | 101.6 |
| 2014 | 98.8 | 103.2 |
| 2015 | 96.6 | 104.3 |
| 2016 | 94.9 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | 93.4 | 111.0 |
| 2018 | 96.0 | 110.8 |
| 2019 | 100.0 | 108.6 |
| 2020 | 98.5 | 105.2 |
| 2021 | 98.9 | 108.2 |
| 2022 | 97.7 | 105.9 |
| 2023 | 99.5 | 105.4 |
| 2024 | 102.6 | 106.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $3,445 in San Francisco vs $1,514 in Detroit
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Detroit, MI
- 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
| Detroit, MI | San Francisco, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $854 | $2,247 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $871 | $2,348 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $879 | $2,413 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $875 | $2,413 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $882 | $2,448 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $899 | $2,505 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $907 | $2,507 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $905 | $2,467 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $918 | $2,518 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $948 | $2,570 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $953 | $2,597 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $952 | $2,583 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $964 | $2,614 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $986 | $2,663 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $994 | $2,687 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $987 | $2,675 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,007 | $2,703 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,032 | $2,742 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,033 | $2,761 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,032 | $2,744 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,040 | $2,768 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,066 | $2,732 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,100 | $2,618 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,112 | $2,520 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,143 | $2,549 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,187 | $2,647 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,230 | $2,739 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,246 | $2,732 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,265 | $2,797 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,313 | $2,863 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,324 | $2,887 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,310 | $2,830 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,320 | $2,859 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,342 | $2,874 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,354 | $2,878 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,354 | $2,831 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,371 | $2,869 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,401 | $2,913 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,415 | $2,926 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,421 | $2,915 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,435 | $2,975 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,450 | $3,041 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,453 | $3,082 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,457 | $3,084 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,468 | $3,161 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,496 | $3,291 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,514 | $3,445 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $1,120,000 in San Francisco vs $264,000 in Detroit
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Detroit, MI
- 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
| Detroit, MI | San Francisco, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $124K | $669K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $128K | $693K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $131K | $715K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $133K | $739K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $136K | $765K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $139K | $770K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $141K | $765K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $144K | $774K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $148K | $794K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $152K | $809K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $154K | $821K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $157K | $848K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $162K | $881K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $165K | $905K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $168K | $912K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $169K | $914K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $174K | $905K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $177K | $901K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $178K | $906K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $179K | $912K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $182K | $926K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $184K | $926K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $186K | $934K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $194K | $972K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $204K | $1.01M | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $214K | $1.06M | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $217K | $1.09M | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $217K | $1.11M | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $226K | $1.18M | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $236K | $1.22M | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $234K | $1.16M | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $231K | $1.11M | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $231K | $1.07M | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $235K | $1.08M | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $240K | $1.1M | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $242K | $1.1M | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $245K | $1.1M | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $250K | $1.13M | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $251K | $1.13M | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $253K | $1.13M | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $256K | $1.12M | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $257K | $1.1M | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $260K | $1.09M | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $262K | $1.1M | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $264K | $1.1M | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $264K | $1.11M | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $264K | $1.12M | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Detroit, MI
- Cost of living in San Francisco, CA
- Reverse: moving from San Francisco to Detroit
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.