Cost of Living in San Francisco, California
San Francisco has a population of about 830,235. The median household income is $140,970, median gross rent is $2,476/month, and the median home value is $1,394,500. These figures come from 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates, the latest full-coverage Census baseline for U.S. cities.
How current is this? Census city data is released with a lag because it is survey-based and designed for consistent coverage across small and large places. Use it as an official affordability baseline; current apartment listings and mortgage rates may differ.
Is San Francisco expensive to live in?
Compared with the national median in this dataset, rent in San Francisco is 50% above the national median and home values are 272% above the national median. Household income here is 68% above the national median. Monthly rent represents roughly 21% of the median annual household income, a rough affordability signal for renters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Francisco?
The median gross rent in San Francisco, California is $2,476 per month in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
What is the median home price in San Francisco?
The median owner-occupied home value in San Francisco is $1,394,500 in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
How much do people earn in San Francisco?
The median household income in San Francisco is $140,970 per year in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Local database last refreshed 2026-07-11.