Cost of Living in San Francisco 2026 — Rent, Food, Transport and Monthly Budget Guide

Cost of Living in San Francisco 2026

San Francisco remains one of the most expensive cities in the United States despite significant population outflows since 2020 and high-profile office vacancies in the downtown core. The combination of a constrained peninsula, restrictive zoning, and technology industry wages has kept rents stubbornly high even as some tech workers have relocated. The city's neighbourhoods have distinct characters: the Mission for burritos and murals; Pacific Heights for tech executives and Victorian mansions; the Castro for LGBTQ+ history; the Sunset for affordable ocean access. BART connects SF to Oakland, Berkeley, and the airport. This guide covers the realistic cost of living in San Francisco in 2026.

Rent and Housing

• 1-bedroom apartment, Pacific Heights/Noe Valley/Cole Valley: USD 3,200-5,500/month (AUD 4,885-8,397); 1-bedroom apartment, Mission/Castro/Haight: USD 2,800-4,500/month (AUD 4,274-6,870); 1-bedroom apartment, Outer Sunset/Richmond: USD 2,400-3,800/month (AUD 3,664-5,802); 1-bedroom apartment, SOMA/Mission Bay (tech corridor): USD 3,000-5,000/month (AUD 4,580-7,634); shared room (roommate), Mission/Castro: USD 1,400-2,000/month (AUD 2,138-3,053); note: 1 AUD ≈ 0.655 USD at mid-2026 approximate rate

Food and Eating Out

• Mission super burrito from Taqueria Cancun or La Taqueria: USD 10-16 (AUD 15.27-24.43); sourdough toast avocado at a SF café: USD 12-18 (AUD 18.32-27.48); dim sum in the Richmond: USD 20-35 (AUD 30.53-53.44) per person; Blue Bottle or Ritual coffee: USD 5-8 (AUD 7.63-12.21); mid-range restaurant for two (Hayes Valley, Mission): USD 90-160 (AUD 137.40-244.27); weekly grocery shop (Safeway, Rainbow Grocery, Whole Foods): USD 120-220 (AUD 183.21-335.88)

Transport

• Muni Metro single fare (Clipper): USD 2.50 (AUD 3.82); BART single trip (SF to Oakland): USD 4.50-6.00 (AUD 6.87-9.16); monthly Muni unlimited pass: USD 98 (AUD 149.62); car ownership adds USD 500-1,000/month (insurance, parking, gas) — many SF residents skip it

Utilities

• Monthly electricity, gas (PG&E): USD 100-250 (AUD 152.67-381.68); internet (Comcast, Sonic 1Gbps): USD 50-80/month (AUD 76.34-122.14); mobile plan: USD 30-60/month (AUD 45.80-91.60)

Monthly Budget Summary

• Budget (roommate, burritos and groceries, Muni): USD 3,500-5,000/month (AUD 5,344-7,634); comfortable single tech worker (own 1-bed Mission): USD 6,000-9,000/month (AUD 9,160-13,740); generous Pacific Heights or Noe Valley lifestyle: USD 10,000-18,000/month (AUD 15,267-27,480); SF remains a city where tech salaries are calibrated to local costs — those on global rates find it expensive; those on SF rates find it manageable

This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.