Compare / San Francisco to San Jose
San Francisco, CA vs San Jose, CA
Simple answer
You'd likely save $425 a month in San Jose.
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 Census rent. Census median gross rent differs by $392, with San Jose higher.
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 San Francisco lines up with about $71,633 in San Jose on the 2024 all-items price parity. Census median gross rent and the commute figures are 2024. Fair Market Rents are fiscal year 2027.
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
San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $3,272
- HUD area
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $2,827
- All-items price parity
- 110.4
- Goods price parity
- 105.2
- Utilities price parity
- 156.7
- Mean commute
- 27.5 min
- Median household income
- $164,801
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.
$71,633
Salary in San Jose that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.
$70,766
Gross salary in San Jose whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.
$66,378
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
San Francisco and San Jose are in California. The benefit rules in this tool are statewide, so the statuses match. Rent and prices still differ.
Food stamps (SNAP)
San FranciscoLikely eligible
San JoseLikely eligible
Medicaid and CHIP
San FranciscoLikely eligible
San JoseLikely eligible
WIC
San FranciscoLikely eligible
San JoseLikely eligible
School meals
San FranciscoLikely eligible
San JoseLikely eligible
LIHEAP
San FranciscoMaybe
San JoseMaybe
Earned Income Tax Credit
San FranciscoLikely eligible
San JoseLikely eligible
Child Tax Credit
San FranciscoLikely eligible
San JoseLikely eligible
Marketplace premium tax credits
San FranciscoUnlikely
San JoseUnlikely
Lifeline phone and internet
San FranciscoLikely eligible
San JoseLikely eligible
SSI
San FranciscoUnlikely
San JoseUnlikely
| Program | San Francisco | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| 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 San Francisco
The eight largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gaps from San Francisco.
- San Francisco and McAllen · rent gap $2,680
- San Francisco and Wichita · rent gap $2,654
- San Francisco and Little Rock · rent gap $2,576
- San Francisco and Toledo · rent gap $2,552
- San Francisco and El Paso · rent gap $2,551
- San Francisco and Baton Rouge · rent gap $2,548
- San Francisco and Columbia · rent gap $2,471
- San Francisco and Tulsa · rent gap $2,468
Nearby metros
How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.