Compare · Cost of Living Comparison
Two independent scenarios side by side.
In summary: A salary of $100,000 in Austin, TX is equivalent to $156,962 in San Francisco, CA — a 57.0% increase in cost of living and a -36.3% change in purchasing power if your pay stays flat.
Comparison highlights
How each spending category in San Francisco, CA compares to Austin, TX. Bars are anchored to the U.S. average (100); the percentage is the change you'd see in that part of your budget.
- Housing?▲ +106%Austin, TX130San Francisco, CA268
- Food?▲ +29%Austin, TX96San Francisco, CA124
- Transportation?▲ +35%Austin, TX99San Francisco, CA134
- Utilities?▲ +35%Austin, TX102San Francisco, CA138
- Healthcare?▲ +22%Austin, TX99San Francisco, CA121
- Goods & misc?▲ +15%Austin, TX102San Francisco, CA117
Common expenses, side-by-side
Sample prices derived from the category indices and U.S. mean prices — useful as a gut-check against listings, menus and bills you'd actually see.
| Item | Austin, TX | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment rent (city center, monthly) | $2,405 | $4,958 | +106% |
| Median home price | $533,000 | $1,098,800 | +106% |
| 1 gallon of milk | $3.94 | $5.08 | +29% |
| Loaf of bread | $3.79 | $4.90 | +29% |
| Meal at a mid-range restaurant | $21 | $27 | +29% |
| Gallon of gasoline | $3.42 | $4.62 | +35% |
| Monthly transit pass | $77 | $105 | +35% |
| Electricity (900 kWh/mo) | $148 | $200 | +35% |
| Home internet (60 Mbps unlimited) | $69 | $94 | +35% |
| Doctor visit (out-of-pocket) | $134 | $163 | +22% |
| Dental cleaning | $173 | $212 | +22% |
| Haircut | $33 | $37 | +15% |
| Movie ticket | $14 | $16 | +15% |
| Gym membership (monthly) | $49 | $56 | +15% |
At a glance
- Composite index, Austin, TX
- 110
- Composite index, San Francisco, CA
- 172
- Cost-of-living gap?
- +57.0%
- Purchasing power?
- -36.3%
- Equivalent monthly pay
- $13,080
- Pay change needed
- +$56,962
Where the money goes in San Francisco, CA
- Housing$68,031 · 43%
- Food$16,792 · 11%
- Transportation$21,657 · 14%
- Utilities$9,471 · 6%
- Healthcare$9,778 · 6%
- Goods & misc$26,382 · 17%
Biggest cost movers
- Housing+106% · +$35,031/yr
- Transportation+35% · +$5,657/yr
- Utilities+35% · +$2,471/yr
- Food+29% · +$3,792/yr
In summary: A salary of $100,000 in Austin, TX is equivalent to $156,962 in San Francisco, CA — a 57.0% increase in cost of living and a -36.3% change in purchasing power if your pay stays flat.
Comparison highlights
How each spending category in San Francisco, CA compares to Austin, TX. Bars are anchored to the U.S. average (100); the percentage is the change you'd see in that part of your budget.
- Housing?▲ +106%Austin, TX130San Francisco, CA268
- Food?▲ +29%Austin, TX96San Francisco, CA124
- Transportation?▲ +35%Austin, TX99San Francisco, CA134
- Utilities?▲ +35%Austin, TX102San Francisco, CA138
- Healthcare?▲ +22%Austin, TX99San Francisco, CA121
- Goods & misc?▲ +15%Austin, TX102San Francisco, CA117
Common expenses, side-by-side
Sample prices derived from the category indices and U.S. mean prices — useful as a gut-check against listings, menus and bills you'd actually see.
| Item | Austin, TX | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment rent (city center, monthly) | $2,405 | $4,958 | +106% |
| Median home price | $533,000 | $1,098,800 | +106% |
| 1 gallon of milk | $3.94 | $5.08 | +29% |
| Loaf of bread | $3.79 | $4.90 | +29% |
| Meal at a mid-range restaurant | $21 | $27 | +29% |
| Gallon of gasoline | $3.42 | $4.62 | +35% |
| Monthly transit pass | $77 | $105 | +35% |
| Electricity (900 kWh/mo) | $148 | $200 | +35% |
| Home internet (60 Mbps unlimited) | $69 | $94 | +35% |
| Doctor visit (out-of-pocket) | $134 | $163 | +22% |
| Dental cleaning | $173 | $212 | +22% |
| Haircut | $33 | $37 | +15% |
| Movie ticket | $14 | $16 | +15% |
| Gym membership (monthly) | $49 | $56 | +15% |
At a glance
- Composite index, Austin, TX
- 110
- Composite index, San Francisco, CA
- 172
- Cost-of-living gap?
- +57.0%
- Purchasing power?
- -36.3%
- Equivalent monthly pay
- $13,080
- Pay change needed
- +$56,962
Where the money goes in San Francisco, CA
- Housing$68,031 · 43%
- Food$16,792 · 11%
- Transportation$21,657 · 14%
- Utilities$9,471 · 6%
- Healthcare$9,778 · 6%
- Goods & misc$26,382 · 17%
Biggest cost movers
- Housing+106% · +$35,031/yr
- Transportation+35% · +$5,657/yr
- Utilities+35% · +$2,471/yr
- Food+29% · +$3,792/yr