Cost of Living: San Francisco vs Raleigh
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in San Francisco compared to Raleigh?
In San Francisco, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $64K in Raleigh. That means Raleigh offers 56% more spending power. Your money goes further in Raleigh.
Based on Numbeo cost of living indices. Full methodology.
Salary Converter
Equivalent salary needed in Raleigh
$64K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $64K in Raleigh vs $100K in San Francisco
San Francisco
96.3
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Raleigh
61.8
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Raleigh is 36% cheaper than San Francisco
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both San Francisco and Raleigh, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | San Francisco median | Raleigh median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $200K | $125K | San Francisco wins by 3% |
| Data Scientists | $195K | $114K | San Francisco wins by 9% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $244K | $160K | roughly equal |
| Cloud Architect | $150K | $95K | roughly equal |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $193K | $115K | San Francisco wins by 8% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.64x). 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 Raleigh?
A: San Francisco is approximately 56% more expensive than Raleigh, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Raleigh is equivalent to about $156K 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 Raleigh?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Raleigh, you would need approximately $156K 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 Raleigh?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, San Francisco wins by 3% when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
Related comparisons
San Francisco vs cities with a cost of living similar to Raleigh
Raleigh vs cities with a cost of living similar to San Francisco