Cost of Living Comparison Between Denver, CO and San Francisco, CA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in San Francisco, CA is 28.1% higher than in Denver, CO (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in San Francisco, CA is 41.3% higher than in Denver, CO | |
| Rent Prices in San Francisco, CA are 66.6% higher than in Denver, CO | |
| Restaurant Prices in San Francisco, CA are 41.9% higher than in Denver, CO | |
| Groceries Prices in San Francisco, CA are 25.6% higher than in Denver, CO | |
| Local Purchasing Power in San Francisco, CA is 15.8% higher than in Denver, CO | |
Restaurants | Denver, CO Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 18.00 $ | 25.00 $ | +38.9 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 80.00 $ | 145.00 $ | +81.2 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 11.50 $ | 15.00 $ | +30.4 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 7.25 $ | 8.00 $ | +10.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 8.00 $ | 9.00 $ | +12.5 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.48 $ | 5.68 $ | +3.6 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.97 $ | 3.31 $ | +11.3 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.12 $ | 2.88 $ | +35.9 % |
Markets | Denver, CO Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 1.04 $ | 1.58 $ | +51.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 3.75 $ | 4.77 $ | +27.3 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 2.90 $ | 2.93 $ | +1.1 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 6.05 $ | 6.60 $ | +9.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 6.51 $ | 10.14 $ | +55.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 6.35 $ | 6.45 $ | +1.6 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 7.93 $ | 10.81 $ | +36.2 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.37 $ | 3.19 $ | +34.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.88 $ | 1.38 $ | +57.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.51 $ | 2.46 $ | -1.9 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 2.64 $ | 3.54 $ | +33.8 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.33 $ | 1.79 $ | +35.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.29 $ | 2.15 $ | +66.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 2.07 $ | 3.23 $ | +56.5 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.41 $ | 2.99 $ | +24.2 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 18.50 $ | 18.00 $ | -2.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 2.80 $ | 3.06 $ | +9.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.96 $ | 3.77 $ | -4.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 10.58 $ | 14.00 $ | +32.3 % |
Transportation | Denver, CO Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 2.75 $ | 3.00 $ | +9.1 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 88.00 $ | 87.00 $ | -1.1 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 3.50 $ | 4.15 $ | +18.6 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 2.82 $ | 3.27 $ | +16.0 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 30.00 $ | 39.00 $ | +30.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 0.83 $ | 1.28 $ | +53.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 35,405.00 $ | 36,998.00 $ | +4.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 25,598.89 $ | 26,147.70 $ | +2.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Denver, CO Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 160.62 $ | 229.15 $ | +42.7 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 80.22 $ | 66.71 $ | -16.8 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 70.44 $ | 68.50 $ | -2.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | Denver, CO Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 67.84 $ | 115.57 $ | +70.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 27.50 $ | 21.88 $ | -20.5 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 15.00 $ | 18.00 $ | +20.0 % |
Childcare | Denver, CO Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,916.32 $ | 3,105.72 $ | +62.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 27,586.00 $ | 42,000.00 $ | +52.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Denver, CO Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 62.88 $ | 74.62 $ | +18.7 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 48.70 $ | 48.60 $ | -0.2 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 107.65 $ | 100.79 $ | -6.4 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 144.31 $ | 127.76 $ | -11.5 % |
Rent Per Month | Denver, CO Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,106.25 $ | 3,351.02 $ | +59.1 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,640.28 $ | 2,782.61 $ | +69.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 3,357.50 $ | 5,732.73 $ | +70.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,797.32 $ | 4,629.33 $ | +65.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Denver, CO Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 505.45 $ | 987.87 $ | +95.4 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 339.33 $ | 849.27 $ | +150.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | Denver, CO Edit |
San Francisco, CA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 4,510.00 $ | 7,377.74 $ | +63.6 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.49 | 6.48 | -0.3 % |
| Last update: | 13 February 2026 | 30 January 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 96 | 126 | |
Moving to Denver, CO? Explore:
Moving to San Francisco, CA? Explore:
Cities near Denver, CO: | Cost of Living in Centennial, Colorado | 14.18 miles |
| Cost of Living in Colorado Springs, Colorado | 68.61 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 |