London vs San Francisco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
London
San Francisco
💡 The Verdict
London is 18% cheaper than San Francisco overall. A $75,000 salary in London is equivalent to $91,346 in San Francisco.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for London (left) vs San Francisco (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in London versus San Francisco. Differences shown from London perspective.
| Item | London | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,830/mo | $2,370/mo | $-540.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $2,500/mo | $3,400/mo | $-900.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $3,210/mo | $4,530/mo | $-1320.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $4.37 | $3.13 | +$1.24 |
| Milk (gallon) | $5.72 | $4.60 | +$1.12 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $4.70 | $3.50 | +$1.20 |
| Coffee (latte) | $8.02 | $6.26 | +$1.76 |
| Gas (gallon) | $4.15 | $3.66 | +$0.49 |
| Restaurant Meal | $22.79 | $26.09 | $-3.30 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in London has the same purchasing power as $91,346 in San Francisco.
Conversely, $75,000 in San Francisco equals $61,579 in London.
Reading These Numbers: London (156) vs San Francisco (190)
London at 156 is 56% above the US average, while San Francisco at 190 is 90% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In London, the composite index of 156 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 183, followed by groceries (150), utilities (160), transportation (140), and healthcare (150). Housing is the primary cost driver here.
For renters: With median rents of $2,500/mo in London and $3,400/mo in San Francisco, the annual rent difference is approximately $10,800.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $54,000.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $614,000.0 difference in median home prices between London and San Francisco translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: London vs San Francisco
Choosing between London and San Francisco involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between London and San Francisco reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.