Cost of Living: San Francisco vs Los Angeles
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in San Francisco compared to Los Angeles?
In San Francisco, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $82K in Los Angeles. That means Los Angeles offers 23% more spending power. Your money goes further in Los Angeles.
Based on Numbeo cost of living indices. Full methodology.
Salary Converter
Equivalent salary needed in Los Angeles
$82K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $82K in Los Angeles vs $100K in San Francisco
San Francisco
96.3
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Los Angeles
78.6
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Los Angeles is 18% cheaper than San Francisco
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | San Francisco median | Los Angeles median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $200K | $157K | San Francisco wins by 4% |
| Data Scientists | $195K | $119K | San Francisco wins by 25% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $244K | $237K | Los Angeles wins by 19% |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $152K | $136K | Los Angeles wins by 10% |
| Accountants and Auditors | $141K | $118K | roughly equal |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.82x). Methodology.
See real salary data
Check actual public salaries for these cities on RoleHue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How much more does it cost to live in San Francisco vs Los Angeles?
A: San Francisco is approximately 23% more expensive than Los Angeles, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Los Angeles is equivalent to about $123K in San Francisco. However, actual costs vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation.
Q:What salary do I need in San Francisco to match $100,000 in Los Angeles?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Los Angeles, you would need approximately $123K in San Francisco. This accounts for differences in housing, groceries, transportation, and other living expenses between the two cities.
Q:Are these cost of living differences accurate for everyone?
A: Cost of living indices provide a useful benchmark, but individual experiences vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation. The data comes from Numbeo's crowd-sourced cost of living database and reflects average spending patterns. Use the interactive calculator above to model your specific salary scenario.
Q:How do real salaries compare between San Francisco and Los Angeles?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, San Francisco wins by 4% when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
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