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Cost of living -

How Much Does It Cost to Live in San Francisco?

  • Last updated on: December 12, 2022

What is the average cost of living in San Francisco?

 

The average cost of living in San Francisco is $3646.22 per month.

San Francisco is an American treasure. It is well-known for its cultural diversity, progressive approach, beautiful natural scenery, delicious food, music, art and culture. The large city has a very welcoming and neighborly vibe, and 900,000 people call San Francisco home. 

There is a certain charm in San Francisco that draws in many new residents each year. But like many major cities, San Francisco’s cost of living is high. According to Numbeo.com, the median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center is $3,181.44 per month.

In this article, we will help you with everything you need to know about the cost of living if you are looking to move to San Francisco. Let us take a look!

(*Numbeo & Bungalow)

Cost of living in San Francisco - 2023

Housing
Utilities
Grocery
Public Transportation
Entertainment
Health Care
Sale Tax
Cost Summary Table

Housing cost in San Francisco

Living in San Francisco is not cheap. San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the United States. For renters, there is tough competition to find an apartment in San Francisco, even in expensive neighborhoods. 

Below is the list of the housing costs rented in San Francisco:

AREA

STUDIO

1 BEDROOM

2 BEDROOM

3 BEDROOM

4 BEDROOM

Ashbury Heights

$1,950

$3,095

$4,648

$4,748

$9,873

Holloway Avenue

$2,720

$2,499

$3,700

$4,900

$5,295

Nob Hill

$2,100

$2,800

$3,595

$4,998

$7,031

North Beach

$2,599

$3,420

$4,750

$3,995

$8,000

Pacific Heights

$2,199

$3,218

$4,998

$7,225

$14,995

 Below is the list of the housing costs to buy an apartment in San Francisco:

APARTMENT

PRICE PER SQUARE METER

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Center

$1069.08

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Center

$891.63

AREA

MEDIAN COST 

Ashbury Heights

$169,500

Holloway Avenue

$999,000

North Beach

$260,000

Pacific Heights

$1,295,000

*The home prices may vary depending on the location you choose to live in. 

(*Numbeo,  Zumper & Redfin)

What is the average rent cost for a 1-bedroom apartment in San Francisco?

 The median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center is $3,181.44 per month.

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Utility cost in San Francisco: Internet, electricity & water

Whether you own a house or pay the rent, you must cover the utility cost. The average basic utility package that includes heating, electricity, water, and garbage in San Francisco is as follows:

UTILITIES

COST PER MONTH

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

$218.28

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

$64.54

(*Numbeo)

What is the average cost of utilities in San Francisco?

 

The average cost of utilities (internet, electricity & water) in San Francisco is $282.82 per month.

Grocery cost in San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the country in regard to food. The grocery cost in San Francisco is 30.4% higher than in the rest of the United States. The prices of everyday food products such as eggs, milk, and bread are higher than what you find in the rest of the United States.

GROCERY

COST

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

$5.55

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

$3.81

Rice (white), (1 lb)

$2.34

Eggs (regular) (12)

$4.82

Local Cheese (1 lb) 

$8.22

Chicken Filets (1 lb)

$6.67

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

$7.99

Apples (1 lb)

$2.98

Banana (1 lb)

$1.47

Oranges (1 lb)

$2.44

Tomato (1 lb)

$3.25

Potato (1 lb)

$1.81

Onion (1 lb)

$1.60

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36

Water (1.5-litre bottle)

$2.27

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.00

Domestic Beer (0.5-litre bottle)

$3.19

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

$3.88

Average Grocery Cost Per Person Per Month

*$423.75

*However, the food costs may vary depending on your area.

(*Numbeo, Rent.com & Smart Asset)

*Multiplied by 2.5  for an average monthly cost of groceries for 1 person

What is the average cost of groceries for 1 person in San Francisco?

 

The monthly average cost of groceries for 1 person in San Francisco is $423.75.

Public transport in San Francisco

San Francisco’s public transportation system is the best in the country, especially regarding accessibility and convenience. San Francisco offers a wide variety of public transport options. 40% of the residents do not own a car and use public transport. Also, San Francisco’s public transport costs are more affordable than New York’s.

According to Numbeo.com data, public transportation costs in San Francisco are as follows:

TRANSPORTATION

COSTS

MetroCards costs (Single Ride)

$2.95

MetroCards cost (Per Month)

$89.00

Unlimited BART Service with San Francisco 

$17.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.00

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

$2.76

Gasoline (1 Gallon)

$6.18

(*Numbeo & Bungalow)

What is the cost of a MetroCard for 1 person in San Francisco?

The MetroCard monthly pass price is $89.00 in 2022.

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Entertainment costs in San Francisco

San Francisco is an epicenter of delicious food, beautiful shoreline parks, pleasant year-round weather, rolling hills, and cable cars. According to Numbeo.com data, the entertainment costs in San Francisco are as follows:

ENTERTAINMENT

COSTS

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

$20.00

Taxi 1-hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.00

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

$15.00

(*Numbeo & Rent.com)

What is the average cost of entertainment in San Francisco?

 

The average monthly cost of entertainment in San Francisco is $68 per month.

Healthcare costs in San Francisco

Healthcare is essential, and we always include healthcare costs in our budget when moving to any place. The healthcare cost in San Francisco is 50% higher than the U.S. average; however, the prices vary among the wide selection of health plans. 

The healthcare costs in San Francisco are as follows:

HEALTHCARE

COST

Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person per month

$653

Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for a family per month (two adults and two children)

$1,717

Non-Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person

$448

Non-Employer-Sponsored Healthcare Couple with at least one child

$1,041

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

$100.00

Overall, San Francisco workers are contributing more than the national average to pay for insurance because of higher premium costs and employers expect workers to deliver a more significant portion of the cost.


(*Numbeo, eHealth, CHCF & NBC Bay Area)

What is the average cost of a gym membership in San Francisco?

 

The average cost of a gym membership in San Francisco is $100.00 per month.

Sales tax in San Francisco

The sales tax rate for San Francisco is 8.63% which is the total state, county, and city sales tax rates. California has some of the highest taxes in the nation. Its base sales tax rate is 7.25%. 

(*Rent.com)

Conclusion

The cost of living in San Francisco is high; however, the city offers a beautiful landscape, a great food scene, and an efficient transport system. If rightly budgeted, you can move to San Francisco in no time.  The average cost of living in San Francisco is mentioned in the table below:

Average monthly cost of living in San Francisco

Illustrations-Mes changements d’adresse (1)

Category

Description

Cost

Housing

Average rent price for a 1 bedroom apartment (Manhattan) + Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person + Average utilities cost

$1950 + $653 + $218.28

Transportation

MetroCards cost for 1 month

$89.00

Food

Regular grocery basket for one person

$423.75

Internet

Internet (60 MPs or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

$64.54

Entertainment (for 1 time only)

Meal Inexpensive restaurant + Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat + Taxi 1-hour Waiting

$15.00  + $20.00 + $33.00

Health and Fitness

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

$100.00

Average Grocery Cost

Per Month, Per Person

$$423.75

Total

Sum

$3,990.32

Note: The cost mentioned above may vary; for instance, if you live with someone, your cost will be considerably low. Also, if you have a family, you will need to add the cost of each family member. The price may also vary depending upon the area you select to live in.

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