Cost of Living Comparison Between Detroit, MI and San Francisco, CA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in San Francisco, CA is 45.0% higher than in Detroit, MI (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in San Francisco, CA is 70.6% higher than in Detroit, MI | |
| Rent Prices in San Francisco, CA are 133.1% higher than in Detroit, MI | |
| Restaurant Prices in San Francisco, CA are 53.0% higher than in Detroit, MI | |
| Groceries Prices in San Francisco, CA are 41.2% higher than in Detroit, MI | |
| Local Purchasing Power in San Francisco, CA is 32.6% higher than in Detroit, MI | |
Restaurants | Detroit, MI Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 20.00 $ | 30.00 $ | +50.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 72.50 $ | 140.00 $ | +93.1 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 11.50 $ | 15.00 $ | +30.4 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 6.50 $ | 8.00 $ | +23.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 6.50 $ | 9.00 $ | +38.5 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 4.84 $ | 5.85 $ | +20.9 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.67 $ | 3.21 $ | +20.2 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 1.94 $ | 2.67 $ | +37.7 % |
Markets | Detroit, MI Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 0.95 $ | 1.54 $ | +61.2 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 2.91 $ | 4.69 $ | +60.9 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 2.72 $ | 2.77 $ | +1.9 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 3.63 $ | 6.18 $ | +70.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 5.50 $ | 10.39 $ | +89.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 5.30 $ | 5.93 $ | +11.9 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 6.87 $ | 10.96 $ | +59.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.08 $ | 3.24 $ | +55.8 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.55 $ | 1.34 $ | +146.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.65 $ | 2.53 $ | -4.5 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 2.80 $ | 3.43 $ | +22.7 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 0.98 $ | 1.62 $ | +65.3 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.13 $ | 1.90 $ | +68.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 2.60 $ | 2.94 $ | +13.3 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.20 $ | 2.86 $ | +30.4 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 15.00 $ | 18.00 $ | +20.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 2.62 $ | 3.15 $ | +20.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.52 $ | 3.56 $ | +41.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 10.00 $ | 14.00 $ | +40.0 % |
Transportation | Detroit, MI Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 2.00 $ | 3.00 $ | +50.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 66.00 $ | 90.00 $ | +36.4 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 2.50 $ | 4.15 $ | +66.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 2.25 $ | 3.25 $ | +44.4 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 48.00 $ | 39.00 $ | -18.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 0.88 $ | 1.28 $ | +45.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 35,699.74 $ | 36,753.89 $ | +3.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 24,314.54 $ | 25,949.06 $ | +6.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Detroit, MI Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 251.12 $ | 235.99 $ | -6.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 64.17 $ | 65.09 $ | +1.4 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 47.50 $ | 68.28 $ | +43.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Detroit, MI Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 43.00 $ | 114.18 $ | +165.5 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 25.20 $ | 12.67 $ | -49.7 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 12.50 $ | 17.00 $ | +36.0 % |
Childcare | Detroit, MI Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,293.75 $ | 3,286.11 $ | +154.0 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 16,800.00 $ | 42,000.00 $ | +150.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Detroit, MI Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 62.90 $ | 70.00 $ | +11.3 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 31.00 $ | 47.20 $ | +52.3 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 97.00 $ | 99.74 $ | +2.8 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 109.00 $ | 125.38 $ | +15.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Detroit, MI Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 1,450.00 $ | 3,324.69 $ | +129.3 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,058.17 $ | 2,720.48 $ | +157.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,449.80 $ | 5,569.57 $ | +127.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,939.80 $ | 4,462.50 $ | +130.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Detroit, MI Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 133.38 $ | 995.63 $ | +646.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 123.99 $ | 885.08 $ | +613.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | Detroit, MI Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 3,076.25 $ | 6,961.85 $ | +126.3 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.40 | 6.39 | -0.1 % |
| Last update: | 2 November 2025 | 4 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 36 | 192 |
Moving to Detroit, MI? Explore:
Moving to San Francisco, CA? Explore:
Cities near Detroit, MI: | Cost of Living in Eastpointe, Michigan | 13.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Plymouth, Michigan | 26.96 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ypsilanti, Michigan | 36.34 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ann Arbor, Michigan | 44.76 miles |
| Cost of Living in Toledo, Ohio | 59.25 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fowlerville, Michigan | 63.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tiffin, Ohio | 106.65 miles |
| Cost of Living in Saint Johns, Michigan | 109.30 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ashland, Ohio | 153.08 miles |
| Cost of Living in Grand Rapids, Michigan | 157.97 miles |
Cities near San Francisco, CA: | Cost of Living in Oakland, California | 10.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in Piedmont, California | 12.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Berkeley, California | 13.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Alameda, California | 15.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Rafael, California | 18.32 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Mateo, California | 21.47 miles |
| Cost of Living in Belmont, California | 24.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Walnut Creek, California | 24.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Redwood City, California | 26.16 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hayward, California | 26.70 miles |