Median rent is 14% lower in Berkeley ($2,133/mo vs $2,476/mo). Buying is cheaper in San Francisco, where the median home runs $1,394,500 versus $1,413,900. Households earn more in San Francisco ($140,970 vs $108,092 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (117.6).
City A
Berkeley, CA
City B
San Francisco, CA
How much would you need to earn in San Francisco, CA to maintain your standard of living from Berkeley, CA?
Equivalent salary in San Francisco, CA
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Berkeley
California
San Francisco
California
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Berkeley at $2,133/mo compared to $2,476/mo in San Francisco (14% gap). Median home values are within 1% of each other: $1,413,900 in Berkeley and $1,394,500 in San Francisco.
Metric
Berkeley
San Francisco
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Berkeley
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Francisco
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is not yet available for these cities.
Pick San Francisco if you prioritize higher median household income ($140,970/yr).
Pick Berkeley if you prioritize cheaper rent ($2,133/mo median).
Berkeley is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 117.6 versus 117.6 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Berkeley.
Median rent is $2,133/mo in Berkeley, CA and $2,476/mo in San Francisco, CA. Berkeley, CA has the lower rent by about 14%.
Median household income is $108,092 in Berkeley, CA and $140,970 in San Francisco, CA. San Francisco, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Berkeley, CA is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in San Francisco, CA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
