New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA

The cost of living difference between New York, NY and San Francisco, CA is dramatic. New York is 31.9% cheaper than San Francisco, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. New York has a cost index of 155 while San Francisco sits at 228, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in New York is $1,779/month compared to $2,419/month in San Francisco — a 27% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New York is more affordable at $751,700 median vs $1,380,500.

Median household income in New York is $79,713 compared to $141,446 in San Francisco (-43.6%). While San Francisco is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of New York spend roughly 26.8% of their income on rent, more than the 20.5% in San Francisco.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (55.8°F vs 57.7°F). New York receives more rainfall at 49.5" per year compared to 22.9" in San Francisco.