Boston vs San Francisco Cost of Living Comparison — Salary, Rent & Expenses
To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Boston, you'd need about $106,700 in San Francisco — a $6,700 premium per year.
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly spending for a middle-income household, adjusted by each metro's BEA price level.
Equivalent Salary: Boston → San Francisco
The salary you'd need in San Francisco to maintain the same purchasing power as each income level in Boston, using the BEA price ratio of 1.067.
| Salary in Boston | Equivalent in San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $53,400 | +$3,400 |
| $75,000 | $80,100 | +$5,100 |
| $100,000 | $106,700 | +$6,700 |
| $150,000 | $160,100 | +$10,100 |
| $200,000 | $213,500 | +$13,500 |
Boston vs San Francisco: What the Numbers Mean
Moving from Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA means your everyday costs are more expensive by roughly 6.7%. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures Boston's overall price level at 108.3 and San Francisco's at 115.6, where 100 represents the national average. In practical terms, a household spending $5,551 per month in Boston would spend about $5,947 for the equivalent lifestyle in San Francisco — a swing of $396 every month, or $4,752 per year.
Housing is the decisive factor. Estimated monthly housing runs $2,414 in Boston against $2,690 in San Francisco. Because rent and mortgage costs vary far more between metros than groceries or utilities, the housing line alone accounts for most of the 6.7% gap.
For salary negotiation or a remote-work relocation, the key number is the equivalent salary. A $100,000 income in Boston has the same purchasing power as $106,700 in San Francisco. Looked at the other way, $100,000 in San Francisco is worth about $93,700 in Boston terms. Use the Cost of Living Calculator to plug in your own expenses.
Cost of living compares prices across places at one point in time. The related question — how prices in one place have changed over time — is answered by inflation. To see what an income or price from an earlier decade is worth in today's money, see what old money is worth today, which converts any amount from 1913 onward using Consumer Price Index data.
Don't forget state taxes
Price levels don't include income tax, which can significantly swing your real take-home pay — especially between MA and CA.
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Francisco more expensive than Boston?
San Francisco is 6.7% more expensive than Boston overall. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024), Boston has a price level of 108.3 versus 115.6 for San Francisco, where 100 equals the national average.
What salary do I need in San Francisco to match $100,000 in Boston?
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary in Boston, you would need about $106,700 in San Francisco — a difference of $6,700 per year.
Which costs more, housing in Boston or San Francisco?
Estimated monthly housing runs about $2,414 in Boston versus $2,690 in San Francisco. Housing is the single biggest driver of the cost-of-living gap between the two metros.
Sources & methodology
Price levels use the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for metropolitan areas (2024, released February 2026). Boston maps to the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH MSA; San Francisco maps to the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA MSA. Category spending baselines come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Category-level figures are modeled estimates and are illustrative; actual costs vary by household. This is a planning tool, not financial advice.