Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco, CA and Philadelphia, PA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Philadelphia, PA is 16.2% lower than in San Francisco, CA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Philadelphia, PA is 28.1% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Rent Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 44.9% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Restaurant Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 23.0% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Groceries Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 16.2% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Philadelphia, PA is 20.4% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
Restaurants | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $25.00 | $22.00 | -12.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | $130.00 | $80.00 | -38.5 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | $15.00 | $12.65 | -15.7 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | $8.00 | $6.00 | -25.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $9.00 | $7.00 | -22.2 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | $5.94 | $5.22 | -12.1 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.30 | $3.01 | -8.8 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | $2.81 | $2.12 | -24.6 % |
Markets | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | $1.65 | $1.44 | -12.5 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | $5.14 | $4.02 | -21.7 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | $2.87 | $4.04 | +41.1 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | $6.53 | $5.34 | -18.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $9.34 | $6.14 | -34.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $7.72 | $6.27 | -18.8 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | $11.04 | $8.50 | -23.0 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | $3.10 | $2.67 | -13.7 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $1.36 | $0.92 | -32.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.58 | $2.32 | -10.0 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $3.48 | $2.53 | -27.2 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.56 | $1.35 | -13.9 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.90 | $1.42 | -25.3 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | $3.28 | $2.44 | -25.6 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | $3.00 | $2.49 | -16.9 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $15.50 | $15.00 | -3.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | $3.02 | $2.26 | -25.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $3.45 | $4.37 | +26.6 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | $12.00 | $13.00 | +8.3 % |
Transportation | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | $3.00 | $2.90 | -3.3 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | $90.00 | $100.00 | +11.1 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | $4.15 | $2.85 | -31.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | $3.27 | $2.51 | -23.2 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | $39.00 | $24.00 | -38.5 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | $1.44 | $1.01 | -30.3 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | $36,998.00 | $36,446.00 | -1.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | $25,897.85 | $25,700.04 | -0.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | $231.00 | $239.00 | +3.5 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | $64.29 | $64.00 | -0.5 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | $72.88 | $70.73 | -2.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | $135.50 | $82.11 | -39.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | $22.86 | $92.67 | +305.4 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | $18.00 | $16.00 | -11.1 % |
Childcare | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | $2,966.26 | $2,204.79 | -25.7 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | $42,000.00 | $42,123.57 | +0.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | $79.50 | $49.39 | -37.9 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | $50.67 | $47.18 | -6.9 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | $103.64 | $99.56 | -3.9 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | $130.40 | $135.15 | +3.6 % |
Rent Per Month | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $3,635.79 | $1,943.93 | -46.5 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $2,759.53 | $1,300.25 | -52.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $5,958.57 | $4,021.67 | -32.5 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $4,849.09 | $2,208.89 | -54.4 % |
Buy Apartment Price | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | $994.72 | $379.58 | -61.8 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | $846.43 | $174.72 | -79.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Philadelphia, PA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $7,730.69 | $4,426.65 | -42.7 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.17 | 6.31 | +2.3 % |
| Last update: | 16 June 2026 | 5 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 133 | 93 | |
Moving to San Francisco, CA? Explore:
Moving to Philadelphia, PA? Explore:
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 |
Cities near Philadelphia, PA: | Cost of Living in Chester, Pennsylvania | 15.53 miles |
| Cost of Living in Sicklerville, New Jersey | 23.05 miles |
| Cost of Living in Levittown, Pennsylvania | 26.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in Browns Mills, New Jersey | 32.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bridgeton, New Jersey | 42.29 miles |
| Cost of Living in Princeton, New Jersey | 44.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in Barnegat, New Jersey | 51.99 miles |
| Cost of Living in Allentown, Pennsylvania | 61.40 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lakewood Township, New Jersey | 66.98 miles |
| Cost of Living in Woodbridge, New Jersey | 70.62 miles |