Compare / Los Angeles to San Francisco
Los Angeles, CA vs San Francisco, CA
Simple answer
You'd likely save $733 a month in Los Angeles.
This is the HUD 2-bedroom fair-market rent for October 2026 through September 2027. It is not your lease.
The largest cost gap in this pair is Fair Market Rent. The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gap is $733: San Francisco is higher at $3,697 versus $2,964.
California taxes wages at rates up to 13.30%. California taxes wages at rates up to 13.30%. Combined sales tax differs by 0.0 percentage points, higher in California. The effective property tax gap is 0.00 percentage points, higher in California.
Both metros are in California, so benefit eligibility in this tool does not change with the move. Rent and price levels still differ.
A $75,000 salary in Los Angeles lines up with about $76,352 in San Francisco on the 2024 all-items price parity. Census median gross rent and the commute figures are 2024. Fair Market Rents are fiscal year 2027.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $2,964
- HUD area
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $2,114
- All-items price parity
- 113.6
- Goods price parity
- 106.6
- Utilities price parity
- 158.6
- Mean commute
- 30.7 min
- Median household income
- $96,405
San Francisco
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $3,697
- HUD area
- San Francisco, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $2,435
- All-items price parity
- 115.6
- Goods price parity
- 108.5
- Utilities price parity
- 172.6
- Mean commute
- 32.7 min
- Median household income
- $135,590
Equivalent salary
The first number keeps the same place in the national price level. The second also runs 2026 federal income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and a simplified state income tax. Groceries use the BEA goods price parity, not a grocery receipt.
$76,352
Salary in San Francisco that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.
$76,700
Gross salary in San Francisco whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.
$93,548
Scales the salary by the ratio of HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents. Rent is not the whole budget.
Taxes on the two sides of the move
| Tax | California | California |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax on wages | up to 13.30% | up to 13.30% |
| Combined sales tax, Jan 1, 2026 | 9.0% | 9.0% |
| Effective property tax, ACS 2024 median / median | 0.71% | 0.71% |
On a $400,000 home, the state median effective rate implies about $2,828 a year in California and $2,828 in California. That illustration is not a local bill. Childcare prices are not in the verified dataset for these metros.
Benefits if you land in California
Los Angeles and San Francisco are in California. The benefit rules in this tool are statewide, so the statuses match. Rent and prices still differ.
Food stamps (SNAP)
Los AngelesLikely eligible
San FranciscoLikely eligible
Medicaid and CHIP
Los AngelesLikely eligible
San FranciscoLikely eligible
WIC
Los AngelesLikely eligible
San FranciscoLikely eligible
School meals
Los AngelesLikely eligible
San FranciscoLikely eligible
LIHEAP
Los AngelesMaybe
San FranciscoMaybe
Earned Income Tax Credit
Los AngelesLikely eligible
San FranciscoLikely eligible
Child Tax Credit
Los AngelesLikely eligible
San FranciscoLikely eligible
Marketplace premium tax credits
Los AngelesUnlikely
San FranciscoUnlikely
Lifeline phone and internet
Los AngelesLikely eligible
San FranciscoLikely eligible
SSI
Los AngelesUnlikely
San FranciscoUnlikely
| Program | Los Angeles | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Food stamps (SNAP) | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Medicaid and CHIP | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| WIC | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| School meals | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| LIHEAP | Maybe | Maybe |
| Earned Income Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Child Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Marketplace premium tax credits | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Lifeline phone and internet | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| SSI | Unlikely | Unlikely |
Related comparisons
From Los Angeles
The eight largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gaps from Los Angeles.
- Los Angeles and McAllen · rent gap $1,947
- Los Angeles and Wichita · rent gap $1,921
- Los Angeles and Little Rock · rent gap $1,843
- Los Angeles and Toledo · rent gap $1,819
- Los Angeles and El Paso · rent gap $1,818
- Los Angeles and Baton Rouge · rent gap $1,815
- Los Angeles and Columbia · rent gap $1,738
- Los Angeles and Tulsa · rent gap $1,735
Nearby metros
How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.