Cost of Living: San Francisco, CA vs San Bernardino, CA (2026)

San Francisco

California
267
VS

San Bernardino

California
109

San Francisco is 145% more expensive than San Bernardino.

$2,419/mo ↑ 69%
Median Rent
$1,433/mo ↓ 41%
$141,446/yr ↑ 121%
Median Income
$63,988/yr ↓ 55%
$1,380,500 ↑ 259%
Home Value
$384,900 ↓ 72%
$2,620/mo ↑ 77%
Owner Costs
$1,478/mo ↓ 44%
836,321
Population
221,774

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
13.3%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
7.25%
0.71%
Property Tax
0.71%

Affordability

20.5%
rent-to-income
Affordability
26.9%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing San Francisco, CA and San Bernardino, CA, the overall cost of living indices are 267 and 109 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $986/month cheaper in San Bernardino, saving renters about $11,832/year.

Median household income is $77,458/year higher in San Francisco. Home values also differ significantly — the median in San Francisco is $1,380,500 compared to $384,900 in San Bernardino.

Both cities share the same state tax structure since they are in California.

Frequently Asked Questions

San Francisco vs San Bernardino — common questions

Is San Francisco or San Bernardino cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, San Bernardino is cheaper to live in with an index of 109 compared to 267 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between San Francisco and San Bernardino?
Median rent in San Francisco is $2,419/month and in San Bernardino it's $1,433/month — a difference of $986/month.
Which city has higher income, San Francisco or San Bernardino?
Median household income is $141,446 in San Francisco and $63,988 in San Bernardino. Median household income is $77,458/year higher in San Francisco.
How do taxes compare between California and California?
Both cities are in California and share the same state tax rates: 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax.
Should I move to San Francisco or San Bernardino?
It depends on your priorities. San Francisco has a cost index of 267 with median rent of $2,419/mo, while San Bernardino has a cost index of 109 with rent of $1,433/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View San Francisco details → View San Bernardino details →

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