Cost of Living: San Francisco, CA vs College Station, TX (2026)

San Francisco

California
267
VS

College Station

Texas
91

San Francisco is 193% more expensive than College Station.

$2,419/mo ↑ 107%
Median Rent
$1,168/mo ↓ 52%
$141,446/yr ↑ 173%
Median Income
$51,776/yr ↓ 63%
$1,380,500 ↑ 323%
Home Value
$326,500 ↓ 76%
$2,620/mo ↑ 109%
Owner Costs
$1,251/mo ↓ 52%
836,321
Population
122,280

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
0%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
6.25%
0.71%
Property Tax
1.6%

Affordability

20.5%
rent-to-income
Affordability
27.1%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing San Francisco, CA and College Station, TX, the overall cost of living indices are 267 and 91 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,251/month cheaper in College Station, saving renters about $15,012/year.

Median household income is $89,670/year higher in San Francisco. Home values also differ significantly — the median in San Francisco is $1,380,500 compared to $326,500 in College Station.

Texas has no state income tax, giving College Station residents a significant tax advantage over California's 13.3% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

San Francisco vs College Station — common questions

Is San Francisco or College Station cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, College Station is cheaper to live in with an index of 91 compared to 267 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between San Francisco and College Station?
Median rent in San Francisco is $2,419/month and in College Station it's $1,168/month — a difference of $1,251/month.
Which city has higher income, San Francisco or College Station?
Median household income is $141,446 in San Francisco and $51,776 in College Station. Median household income is $89,670/year higher in San Francisco.
How do taxes compare between California and Texas?
California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax. Texas has 0% income tax, 6.25% sales tax, and 1.6% property tax.
Should I move to San Francisco or College Station?
It depends on your priorities. San Francisco has a cost index of 267 with median rent of $2,419/mo, while College Station has a cost index of 91 with rent of $1,168/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View San Francisco details → View College Station details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for San Francisco and College Station

San Francisco vs. Indianapolis San Francisco vs. Seattle San Francisco vs. Charlotte San Francisco vs. Denver San Francisco vs. Columbus San Francisco vs. Oklahoma City College Station vs. Clovis College Station vs. Independence College Station vs. Arvada College Station vs. Rochester College Station vs. Concord College Station vs. Lafayette