San Francisco, CA vs Riverside, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Riverside, CA is 7.9% less expensive than San Francisco, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in San Francisco works out to about $69,100 in Riverside, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 33.6% less in Riverside. Goods are 6.5% lower and other services 4.6% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $2,533 a month in Riverside and $3,445 in San Francisco, $10,944 a year less in Riverside (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $580,000 in Riverside and $1,120,000 in San Francisco.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Riverside was 11.8% less expensive than San Francisco.
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: 33.6% lower in Riverside than in San Francisco
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- San Francisco, CA
- Riverside, CA
All items San Francisco, CA: 115.6 Riverside, CA: 106.4
Goods San Francisco, CA: 108.5 Riverside, CA: 101.4
Housing (rents) San Francisco, CA: 194.7 Riverside, CA: 129.3
Utilities San Francisco, CA: 172.6 Riverside, CA: 148.6
Other services San Francisco, CA: 106.2 Riverside, CA: 101.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 115.6 | 106.4 |
| Goods | 108.5 | 101.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 194.7 | 129.3 |
| Utilities | 172.6 | 148.6 |
| Other services | 106.2 | 101.3 |
| Category | San Francisco | Riverside | Riverside vs San Francisco |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 115.6 | 106.4 | −7.9% |
| Goods | 108.5 | 101.4 | −6.5% |
| Housing (rents) | 194.7 | 129.3 | −33.6% |
| Utilities | 172.6 | 148.6 | −13.9% |
| Other services | 106.2 | 101.3 | −4.6% |
| Typical asking rent | $3,445 | $2,533 | −26.5% |
| Typical home value | $1,120,000 | $580,000 | −48.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in San Francisco | $75,000 | $69,100 | −7.9% |
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 San Francisco and Riverside has narrowed since 2008: 12.8 points then, 9.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- San Francisco, CA
- Riverside, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 119.1 | 106.3 |
| 2009 | 115.2 | 106.2 |
| 2010 | 113.9 | 105.2 |
| 2011 | 112.4 | 104.6 |
| 2012 | 112.5 | 104.5 |
| 2013 | 112.9 | 105.7 |
| 2014 | 114.0 | 107.1 |
| 2015 | 115.8 | 107.1 |
| 2016 | 116.4 | 105.6 |
| 2017 | 121.6 | 102.8 |
| 2018 | 122.3 | 106.0 |
| 2019 | 119.7 | 105.7 |
| 2020 | 119.6 | 104.4 |
| 2021 | 120.0 | 105.6 |
| 2022 | 118.0 | 106.7 |
| 2023 | 117.6 | 107.3 |
| 2024 | 115.6 | 106.4 |
Goods
- San Francisco, CA
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 117.8 | 103.6 |
| 2009 | 110.0 | 100.8 |
| 2010 | 107.0 | 98.5 |
| 2011 | 105.5 | 99.7 |
| 2012 | 108.0 | 102.0 |
| 2013 | 109.9 | 105.3 |
| 2014 | 108.8 | 104.7 |
| 2015 | 111.4 | 103.2 |
| 2016 | 111.2 | 100.1 |
| 2017 | 114.0 | 99.3 |
| 2018 | 116.2 | 99.8 |
| 2019 | 113.8 | 100.2 |
| 2020 | 113.0 | 102.8 |
| 2021 | 113.8 | 100.7 |
| 2022 | 114.4 | 102.5 |
| 2023 | 115.2 | 102.0 |
| 2024 | 108.5 | 101.4 |
Housing (rents)
- San Francisco, CA
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 191.0 | 138.0 |
| 2009 | 192.1 | 134.2 |
| 2010 | 189.2 | 131.7 |
| 2011 | 191.9 | 129.4 |
| 2012 | 189.0 | 123.8 |
| 2013 | 190.7 | 126.2 |
| 2014 | 198.1 | 125.1 |
| 2015 | 204.5 | 121.6 |
| 2016 | 210.4 | 124.6 |
| 2017 | 215.2 | 123.6 |
| 2018 | 219.7 | 126.1 |
| 2019 | 213.0 | 128.8 |
| 2020 | 227.1 | 126.3 |
| 2021 | 213.5 | 129.6 |
| 2022 | 206.3 | 129.2 |
| 2023 | 200.1 | 132.0 |
| 2024 | 194.7 | 129.3 |
Utilities
- San Francisco, CA
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 115.6 | 113.7 |
| 2009 | 115.7 | 112.4 |
| 2010 | 118.5 | 114.7 |
| 2011 | 113.2 | 116.5 |
| 2012 | 110.3 | 122.9 |
| 2013 | 130.1 | 119.8 |
| 2014 | 135.1 | 130.2 |
| 2015 | 142.5 | 130.8 |
| 2016 | 145.5 | 132.5 |
| 2017 | 152.4 | 138.1 |
| 2018 | 158.4 | 145.8 |
| 2019 | 162.8 | 152.1 |
| 2020 | 161.3 | 144.5 |
| 2021 | 167.0 | 151.5 |
| 2022 | 170.4 | 155.2 |
| 2023 | 162.2 | 164.3 |
| 2024 | 172.6 | 148.6 |
Other services
- San Francisco, CA
- Riverside, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.0 | 98.1 |
| 2009 | 104.0 | 99.9 |
| 2010 | 104.1 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 102.7 | 99.1 |
| 2012 | 102.2 | 98.9 |
| 2013 | 101.6 | 98.8 |
| 2014 | 103.2 | 101.7 |
| 2015 | 104.3 | 103.8 |
| 2016 | 104.9 | 101.9 |
| 2017 | 111.0 | 97.6 |
| 2018 | 110.8 | 102.5 |
| 2019 | 108.6 | 100.7 |
| 2020 | 105.2 | 97.3 |
| 2021 | 108.2 | 100.5 |
| 2022 | 105.9 | 101.1 |
| 2023 | 105.4 | 101.6 |
| 2024 | 106.2 | 101.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,533 in Riverside vs $3,445 in San Francisco
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- San Francisco, CA
- Riverside, 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
| San Francisco, CA | Riverside, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $2,247 | $1,294 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $2,348 | $1,317 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $2,413 | $1,342 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $2,413 | $1,351 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $2,448 | $1,366 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $2,505 | $1,384 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $2,507 | $1,405 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $2,467 | $1,410 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $2,518 | $1,444 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $2,570 | $1,478 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $2,597 | $1,498 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $2,583 | $1,512 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $2,614 | $1,538 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $2,663 | $1,564 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $2,687 | $1,591 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $2,675 | $1,604 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,703 | $1,622 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,742 | $1,648 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,761 | $1,672 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,744 | $1,678 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,768 | $1,697 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,732 | $1,708 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,618 | $1,789 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,520 | $1,845 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,549 | $1,917 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,647 | $2,008 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,739 | $2,133 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,732 | $2,159 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,797 | $2,226 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,863 | $2,295 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,887 | $2,312 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,830 | $2,289 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,859 | $2,314 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,874 | $2,338 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,878 | $2,347 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,831 | $2,344 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,869 | $2,368 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,913 | $2,393 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,926 | $2,422 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,915 | $2,418 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,975 | $2,446 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $3,041 | $2,461 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $3,082 | $2,462 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $3,084 | $2,467 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $3,161 | $2,493 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $3,291 | $2,518 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $3,445 | $2,533 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $580,000 in Riverside vs $1,120,000 in San Francisco
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- San Francisco, CA
- Riverside, 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
| San Francisco, CA | Riverside, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $669K | $285K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $693K | $290K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $715K | $295K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $739K | $297K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $765K | $304K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $770K | $311K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $765K | $312K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $774K | $306K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $794K | $318K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $809K | $330K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $821K | $339K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $848K | $352K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $881K | $359K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $905K | $363K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $912K | $368K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $914K | $374K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $905K | $376K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $901K | $375K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $906K | $377K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $912K | $385K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $926K | $391K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $926K | $392K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $934K | $400K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $972K | $424K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $1.01M | $446K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $1.06M | $474K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $1.09M | $497K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $1.11M | $517K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $1.18M | $546K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $1.22M | $574K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $1.16M | $571K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $1.11M | $562K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $1.07M | $549K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $1.08M | $552K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $1.1M | $564K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $1.1M | $575K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $1.1M | $579K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $1.13M | $586K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $1.13M | $590K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $1.13M | $594K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $1.12M | $590K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $1.1M | $583K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $1.09M | $577K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $1.1M | $579K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $1.1M | $582K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $1.11M | $580K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $1.12M | $580K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in San Francisco, CA
- Cost of living in Riverside, CA
- Reverse: moving from Riverside to San Francisco
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.