Cost of Living Rankings
Explore U.S. metro areas ranked by cost of living, affordability, and rent prices using BEA Regional Price Parities across all 50 states. See our methodology.
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont cost index
All-items RPP vs national average (100)
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont category breakdown
BEA RPP composition · index 100 = national average
Most Expensive
Top metros with the highest overall cost of living index
- 1. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont 115.6
- 2. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach 114.2
- 3. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim 113.6
- 4. New York-Newark-Jersey City 112.6
- 5. Napa 112.6
Cheapest Cities
Most affordable metro areas by cost of living
- 1. Monroe 83.6
- 2. Eagle Pass 83.8
- 3. Dothan 83.8
- 4. Texarkana 84.0
- 5. Enid 84.3
Highest Rents
Metros with the highest rent price index
- 1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara 211.9
- 2. Napa 197.4
- 3. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont 194.7
- 4. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad 179.3
- 5. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura 171.1
About Cost of Living Rankings
These rankings use the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities (RPPs) to compare the cost of living across U.S. metropolitan areas. The RPP index measures the relative price levels of goods, services, and rents, with the national average set at 100.
A metro with an RPP of 110 is 10% more expensive than the national average, while one at 90 is 10% cheaper. Use the salary calculator to see what your income is worth in different cities, or compare two metros side by side.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Index where national average = 100