Cost of Living: San Francisco vs San Jose (2026)

San Francisco vs San Jose cost of living compared: rent, home prices, and what your salary is really worth. San Jose is about 4% less expensive than San Francisco overall — $100,000 in San Francisco is worth about $95,511 in San Jose.

San Jose is about 4% less expensive than San Francisco overall — $100,000 in San Francisco is worth about $95,511 in San Jose.

San Francisco vs San Jose: the numbers

MetricSan FranciscoSan JoseDifference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)116110-4%
Median rent$2,419$2,617+8%
Median home value$1,380,500$1,187,800-14%
Median household income$141,446$141,565+0%

Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.

What your salary is worth

A $100,000 salary in San Francisco has the same buying power as about $95,511 in San Jose. Going the other way, $100,000 in San Jose is like $104,700 in San Francisco.

Use the calculator below to compare any salary between San Francisco and San Jose.

Compare any salary: San Francisco vs San Jose

What you earn (or want to compare)

Frequently Asked Questions

San Francisco is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 116 vs 110 — a 4% difference. Your money goes further in San Jose.

About $95,511 — that's what you'd need in San Jose to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in San Francisco.