Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco, CA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco, CA and New York, NY

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: San Francisco, CA is 7.4% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 2.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: San Francisco, CA is 6.6% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 11.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.77 $24.77
$29.68 $29.68
-16.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$131 $131
$144 $144
-8.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.79 $14.79
$12.43 $12.43
18.99%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.84 $5.84
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 $3.28
$3.26 $3.26
0.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.58 $2.58
-3.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.9 $7.9
$8.24 $8.24
-4.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.12 $8.12
$11.86 $11.86
-31.53%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.56 $1.56
-5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$5.18 $5.18
$5.23 $5.23
-0.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.61 $6.61
$8.11 $8.11
-18.50%
Eggs
$5.97 $5.97
$7.25 $7.25
-17.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.1 $23.1
$17.08 $17.08
35.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.26 $15.26
$16.24 $16.24
-6.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.64 $23.64
$20.02 $20.02
18.08%
Apples (1kg)
$6.94 $6.94
$7.49 $7.49
-7.34%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.55 $2.55
8.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$5.82 $5.82
-8.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.41 $7.41
$6.52 $6.52
13.65%
Potato (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$3.72 $3.72
3.49%
Onion (1kg)
$3.85 $3.85
$3.9 $3.9
-1.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.89 $2.89
$3.07 $3.07
-5.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.57 $2.57
11.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.06 $14.06
$19.21 $19.21
-26.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.87 $17.87
$17.79 $17.79
0.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.01 $3.01
-12.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$3.72 $3.72
-11.56%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.92 $2.92
4.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.1 $95.1
$134 $134
-29.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 $4.11
$5.13 $5.13
-19.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.15 $2.15
-4.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.34 $39.34
$41.57 $41.57
-5.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 $1.33
$0.95 $0.95
40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K $34.7K
$35K $35K
-1.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$27.7K $27.7K
-5.39%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 $225
$179 $179
25.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.6 $64.6
$60 $60
7.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6 $67.6
$63.8 $63.8
5.97%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$100 $100
$141 $141
-28.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.65 $12.65
$63.9 $63.9
-80.20%
Cinema Ticket
$17.04 $17.04
$19.9 $19.9
-14.37%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,218 $3,218
$3,206 $3,206
0.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.1K $38.1K
$56.5K $56.5K
-32.56%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.7 $67.7
$65.7 $65.7
2.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.18 $45.18
$48.75 $48.75
-7.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$111 $111
-9.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$172 $172
-12.45%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,301 $3,301
$4,165 $4,165
-20.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,747 $2,747
$2,653 $2,653
3.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,371 $5,371
$8,412 $8,412
-36.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,500 $4,500
$5,277 $5,277
-14.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$15.6K $15.6K
-30.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,649 $9,649
$11.2K $11.2K
-13.52%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,014 $7,014
$5,616 $5,616
24.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.44
-1.24%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Francisco, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

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