San Francisco, CA vs San Jose, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, San Jose, CA is 4.5% less expensive than San Francisco, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in San Francisco works out to about $71,600 in San Jose, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 3.0% lower and other services 5.6% lower in San Jose, while housing is 8.8% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $3,812 a month in San Jose and $3,445 in San Francisco, $4,404 a year more in San Jose (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $1,524,000 in San Jose and $1,120,000 in San Francisco.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (5.7%).
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.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between San Francisco and San Jose
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
All items San Francisco, CA: 115.6 San Jose, CA: 110.4
Goods San Francisco, CA: 108.5 San Jose, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) San Francisco, CA: 194.7 San Jose, CA: 211.9
Utilities San Francisco, CA: 172.6 San Jose, CA: 156.7
Other services San Francisco, CA: 106.2 San Jose, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | San Jose, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 115.6 | 110.4 |
| Goods | 108.5 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 194.7 | 211.9 |
| Utilities | 172.6 | 156.7 |
| Other services | 106.2 | 100.3 |
| Category | San Francisco | San Jose | San Jose vs San Francisco |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 115.6 | 110.4 | −4.5% |
| Goods | 108.5 | 105.2 | −3.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 194.7 | 211.9 | +8.8% |
| Utilities | 172.6 | 156.7 | −9.2% |
| Other services | 106.2 | 100.3 | −5.6% |
| Typical asking rent | $3,445 | $3,812 | +10.7% |
| Typical home value | $1,120,000 | $1,524,000 | +36.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in San Francisco | $75,000 | $71,600 | −4.5% |
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 San Francisco and San Jose has widened since 2008: 0.2 points then, 5.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, 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 | San Jose, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 119.1 | 119.3 |
| 2009 | 115.2 | 115.9 |
| 2010 | 113.9 | 114.0 |
| 2011 | 112.4 | 112.7 |
| 2012 | 112.5 | 113.4 |
| 2013 | 112.9 | 114.1 |
| 2014 | 114.0 | 115.6 |
| 2015 | 115.8 | 117.2 |
| 2016 | 116.4 | 117.7 |
| 2017 | 121.6 | 122.9 |
| 2018 | 122.3 | 114.5 |
| 2019 | 119.7 | 112.9 |
| 2020 | 119.6 | 113.5 |
| 2021 | 120.0 | 111.6 |
| 2022 | 118.0 | 115.3 |
| 2023 | 117.6 | 113.1 |
| 2024 | 115.6 | 110.4 |
Goods
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, 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 | San Jose, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 117.8 | 117.4 |
| 2009 | 110.0 | 109.8 |
| 2010 | 107.0 | 106.8 |
| 2011 | 105.5 | 105.4 |
| 2012 | 108.0 | 107.8 |
| 2013 | 109.9 | 109.6 |
| 2014 | 108.8 | 108.6 |
| 2015 | 111.4 | 111.2 |
| 2016 | 111.2 | 111.1 |
| 2017 | 114.0 | 113.8 |
| 2018 | 116.2 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 113.8 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 113.0 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 113.8 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 114.4 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 115.2 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 108.5 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, 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 | San Jose, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 191.0 | 204.3 |
| 2009 | 192.1 | 207.9 |
| 2010 | 189.2 | 199.2 |
| 2011 | 191.9 | 209.4 |
| 2012 | 189.0 | 211.4 |
| 2013 | 190.7 | 217.7 |
| 2014 | 198.1 | 229.9 |
| 2015 | 204.5 | 236.1 |
| 2016 | 210.4 | 239.0 |
| 2017 | 215.2 | 243.3 |
| 2018 | 219.7 | 246.7 |
| 2019 | 213.0 | 239.7 |
| 2020 | 227.1 | 245.5 |
| 2021 | 213.5 | 241.3 |
| 2022 | 206.3 | 233.2 |
| 2023 | 200.1 | 213.0 |
| 2024 | 194.7 | 211.9 |
Utilities
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, 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 | San Jose, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 115.6 | 114.0 |
| 2009 | 115.7 | 115.1 |
| 2010 | 118.5 | 118.0 |
| 2011 | 113.2 | 113.0 |
| 2012 | 110.3 | 110.2 |
| 2013 | 130.1 | 129.2 |
| 2014 | 135.1 | 133.6 |
| 2015 | 142.5 | 140.9 |
| 2016 | 145.5 | 144.7 |
| 2017 | 152.4 | 151.6 |
| 2018 | 158.4 | 120.5 |
| 2019 | 162.8 | 128.4 |
| 2020 | 161.3 | 130.7 |
| 2021 | 167.0 | 140.8 |
| 2022 | 170.4 | 145.0 |
| 2023 | 162.2 | 137.9 |
| 2024 | 172.6 | 156.7 |
Other services
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, 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 | San Jose, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.0 | 106.9 |
| 2009 | 104.0 | 103.9 |
| 2010 | 104.1 | 104.0 |
| 2011 | 102.7 | 102.6 |
| 2012 | 102.2 | 102.1 |
| 2013 | 101.6 | 101.5 |
| 2014 | 103.2 | 103.1 |
| 2015 | 104.3 | 104.2 |
| 2016 | 104.9 | 104.7 |
| 2017 | 111.0 | 110.8 |
| 2018 | 110.8 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 108.6 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 105.2 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 108.2 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 105.9 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 105.4 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 106.2 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $3,812 in San Jose vs $3,445 in San Francisco
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, 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 | San Jose, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $2,247 | $2,555 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $2,348 | $2,704 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $2,413 | $2,746 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $2,413 | $2,727 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $2,448 | $2,760 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $2,505 | $2,816 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $2,507 | $2,780 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $2,467 | $2,729 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $2,518 | $2,797 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $2,570 | $2,878 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $2,597 | $2,883 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $2,583 | $2,853 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $2,614 | $2,915 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $2,663 | $2,974 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $2,687 | $2,983 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $2,675 | $2,952 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,703 | $2,983 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,742 | $3,045 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,761 | $3,051 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,744 | $3,031 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,768 | $3,061 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,732 | $3,015 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,618 | $2,907 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,520 | $2,801 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,549 | $2,802 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,647 | $2,916 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,739 | $3,027 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,732 | $3,013 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,797 | $3,096 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,863 | $3,229 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,887 | $3,283 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,830 | $3,195 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,859 | $3,225 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,874 | $3,274 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,878 | $3,282 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,831 | $3,208 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,869 | $3,288 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,913 | $3,370 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,926 | $3,398 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,915 | $3,350 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,975 | $3,410 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $3,041 | $3,485 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $3,082 | $3,519 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $3,084 | $3,509 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $3,161 | $3,570 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $3,291 | $3,700 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $3,445 | $3,812 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $1,524,000 in San Jose vs $1,120,000 in San Francisco
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, 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 | San Jose, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $669K | $780K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $693K | $790K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $715K | $827K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $739K | $865K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $765K | $888K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $770K | $877K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $765K | $846K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $774K | $837K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $794K | $873K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $809K | $906K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $821K | $901K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $848K | $917K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $881K | $1.01M | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $905K | $1.12M | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $912K | $1.17M | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $914K | $1.18M | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $905K | $1.13M | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $901K | $1.08M | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $906K | $1.08M | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $912K | $1.09M | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $926K | $1.11M | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $926K | $1.1M | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $934K | $1.11M | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $972K | $1.18M | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $1.01M | $1.22M | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $1.06M | $1.27M | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $1.09M | $1.31M | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $1.11M | $1.35M | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $1.18M | $1.47M | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $1.22M | $1.52M | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $1.16M | – | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $1.11M | $1.4M | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $1.07M | $1.35M | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $1.08M | $1.35M | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $1.1M | $1.42M | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $1.1M | $1.47M | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $1.1M | $1.47M | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $1.13M | $1.51M | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $1.13M | $1.55M | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $1.13M | $1.59M | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $1.12M | $1.58M | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $1.1M | $1.53M | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $1.09M | $1.52M | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $1.1M | $1.56M | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $1.1M | $1.55M | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $1.11M | $1.52M | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $1.12M | $1.52M | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in San Francisco, CA
- Cost of living in San Jose, CA
- Reverse: moving from San Jose 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.