San Francisco travel budget

San Francisco: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to San Francisco

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in San Francisco for 2 people.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 95 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 22 per person
  • $ 11 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 2226*

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 182 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 59 per person
  • $ 20 per person
  • $ 17 per person

Total budget:

$ 5195*

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 268 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 107 per person
  • $ 38 per person
  • $ 34 per person

Total budget:

$ 8720*

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).



Cost of living in San Francisco compared to United States in 2024

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in San Francisco in 2024 is 17% higher than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in San Francisco in 2024 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):




Local prices in San Francisco by expense type

Restaurant budget in San Francisco

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in San Francisco is 18% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 26/person
($ 16 to $ 35)

25% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 59/person
($ 41 to $ 75)

57% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 12/person
($ 10 to $ 15)

10% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Local beer
Local beer
$ 7.9 for 500ml
($ 5 to $ 11)

34% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 3 for 330ml
($ 1.6 to $ 5)

13% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 5.6/cup
($ 3.9 to $ 7.2)

9% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 2.8/can
($ 2.2 to $ 5)

12% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 2.2/bottle
($ 1.8 to $ 3)

7% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Hotel and accommodation budget in San Francisco

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in San Francisco is 6% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 143/night
($ 64 to $ 374)

15% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 169
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 138/night
($ 52 to $ 381)

9% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 153
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 226/night
($ 71 to $ 734)

1% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 225
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 310/night
($ 135 to $ 963)

2% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 306
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 704/night
($ 312 to $ 1657)

61% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 438
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 145/month
($ 57 to $ 405)

11% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 163
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 252/month
($ 64 to $ 1186)

7% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 237
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 249/month
($ 71 to $ 1203)

22% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 205
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 235/month
($ 118 to $ 568)

7% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 222
Family room
Family room
$ 185/month
($ 73 to $ 580)

8% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 203

Supermarket food budget in San Francisco

On average, the price of supermarket food in San Francisco is 41% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 1.8)

50% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Bread
Bread
$ 4.8/500g
($ 2.8 to $ 8.7)

36% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Rice
Rice
$ 6.8/kg
($ 3 to $ 11)

51% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5
Eggs
Eggs
$ 5.3/12 eggs
($ 3 to $ 6.9)

44% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7
Chicken
Chicken
$ 15/kg
($ 6.6 to $ 27)

20% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12
Apples
Apples
$ 7.1/kg
($ 3.3 to $ 11)

37% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 8.1/kg
($ 3 to $ 11)

69% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 4.3/kg
($ 2.2 to $ 8.7)

50% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 2.5
($ 1.2 to $ 3.5)

15% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Public and private transport budget in San Francisco

On average, the price of transport in San Francisco is 19% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 2.5/ticket
($ 2.4 to $ 3.9)

5% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 2/km
($ 2 to $ 2.1)

17% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7
Petrol
Petrol
$ 1.4/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.6)

47% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 4.1
($ 3.9 to $ 4.1)

13% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Car hire
Car hire
$ 80/24hrs
($ 31 to $ 227)

12% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 71

Leisure activity budget in San Francisco

On average, budget for leisure activities in San Francisco is 3% cheaper than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 17/ticket
($ 15 to $ 21)

22% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Tennis
Tennis
$ 16/hr
($ 16 to $ 41)

27% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in San Francisco

On average, shopping budget in San Francisco is 21% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 14/pack
($ 13 to $ 14)

40% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 62
($ 41 to $ 99)

17% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 52
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 46
($ 30 to $ 66)

6% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 43

Plane ticket budget

Sydney → San Francisco
Sydney → San Francisco
Sydney → San Francisco
$ 1477
(fair price: $ 1190)
Melbourne → San Francisco
Melbourne → San Francisco
Melbourne → San Francisco
$ 1774
(fair price: $ 1288)
New York City → San Francisco
New York City → San Francisco
New York City → San Francisco
$ 376
(fair price: $ 302)
Montreal → San Francisco
Montreal → San Francisco
Montreal → San Francisco
$ 586
(fair price: $ 482)
Edinburgh → San Francisco
Edinburgh → San Francisco
Edinburgh → San Francisco
$ 728
(fair price: $ 622)
London → San Francisco
London → San Francisco
London → San Francisco
$ 635
(fair price: $ 540)
Sydney → New York City
Sydney → New York City
Sydney → New York City
$ 1257
(fair price: $ 1107)
Melbourne → New York City
Melbourne → New York City
Melbourne → New York City
$ 1581
(fair price: $ 1312)
Toronto → New York City
Toronto → New York City
Toronto → New York City
$ 266
(fair price: $ 229)
New York City → Miami (Florida)
New York City → Miami (Florida)
New York City → Miami (Florida)
$ 267
(fair price: $ 174)
Los Angeles → New York City
Los Angeles  → New York City
Los Angeles  → New York City
$ 368
(fair price: $ 285)
Montreal → New York City
Montreal → New York City
Montreal → New York City
$ 300
(fair price: $ 269)

Book a flight Flight prices to San Francisco




About this information on the cost of living in San Francisco

The information about the cost of living in San Francisco shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including: Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.

The information about the cost of living in San Francisco was updated on 08-11-2024.

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