What is the cost of living in South San Francisco, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, South San Francisco has an overall cost of living index of 205, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, South San Francisco has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in South San Francisco ranks as #536 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies South San Francisco ranks as the #98 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in South San Francisco, check out:
South San Francisco Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in South San Francisco. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in South San Francisco is 113.
The Groceries index in South San Francisco is 112.
The Health index in South San Francisco is 418.
The Housing index in South San Francisco is 122.
The Transportation index in South San Francisco is 118.
The Utilities index in South San Francisco is 125.
| Living Expense | South San Francisco | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 205 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 418 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 121 | 100 |
South San Francisco Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in South San Francisco Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
South San Francisco, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in South San Francisco is $1,242,213.
The Median Rent in South San Francisco is $2,802.
The Median Income in South San Francisco is $136,578.
The Home Value To Income in South San Francisco is 9.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in South San Francisco is 0.25x.
| Statistic | South San Francisco | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,242,213 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,802 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $136,578 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.1x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
South San Francisco, CA Costs By Category
Detailed South San Francisco Services costs vs. California
| Item | South San Francisco | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.65 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $16.02 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.01 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.38 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $85.43 | $45.56 |
Detailed South San Francisco Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | South San Francisco | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.23 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.11 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $5.18 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.74 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $4.09 | $3.7 |
Detailed South San Francisco Health costs vs. California
| Item | South San Francisco | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $159.79 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.45 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $155.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed South San Francisco Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | South San Francisco | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $75.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed South San Francisco Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | South San Francisco | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $298.77 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.63 | $192.25 |
South San Francisco SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around South San Francisco
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around South San Francisco. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
San Mateo, CA has a cost of living index of 250, 1.2x South San Francisco.
San Bruno, CA has a cost of living index of 214, 1.0x South San Francisco.
Pacifica, CA has a cost of living index of 212, 1.0x South San Francisco.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. South San Francisco |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo, CA | 103,105 | 250 | 1.2x |
| San Bruno, CA | 42,307 | 214 | 1.0x |
| Pacifica, CA | 37,261 | 212 | 1.0x |
| Menlo Park, CA | 32,727 | 337 | 1.6x |
| Burlingame, CA | 30,525 | 337 | 1.6x |
| San Carlos, CA | 29,614 | 311 | 1.5x |
| San Lorenzo, CA | 29,171 | 170 | 0.8x |
| Belmont, CA | 27,337 | 286 | 1.4x |
| Millbrae, CA | 22,689 | 288 | 1.4x |
| North Fair Oaks, CA | 13,100 | 221 | 1.1x |
