CostIndexUSA

Fort Lauderdale, FL vs San Francisco, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Fort Lauderdale
114.2
overall index
$2,650/mo rent
CA
San Francisco
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent

Fort Lauderdale is slightly cheaper than San Francisco — 1.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale, you would need $81,000 in San Francisco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+25.1%
Fort Lauderdale
155.6
San Francisco
194.7
🛒 Groceries+4.7%
Fort Lauderdale
103.6
San Francisco
108.5
🚗 Transportation2.7%
Fort Lauderdale
114.6
San Francisco
111.5
🏥 Healthcare2.7%
Fort Lauderdale
103.7
San Francisco
100.9
Utilities+77.6%
Fort Lauderdale
97.2
San Francisco
172.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fort Lauderdale to see what you'd need to earn in San Francisco to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in San Francisco, CA
$81,000
$1,000 more needed in San Francisco

Formula: salary × (115.6 ÷ 114.2) = salary × 1.0123. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Median Home Price
$467,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,650
Housing Index
155.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.7×

San Francisco, CA

Median Home Price
$1,090,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,075
Housing Index
194.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.5×

San Francisco has 25.1% higher housing costs compared to Fort Lauderdale.

Income & Job Market

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Median Household Income
$76,300
Per Capita Income
$43,500
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
182,760
Top Industries
FinanceTourismHealthcareReal EstateMarine

San Francisco, CA

Median Household Income
$127,800
Per Capita Income
$72,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
873,965
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceTourismHealthcareMedia

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fort Lauderdale, FL
2.4×income-to-rent ratio

58% of income left after rent (median)

San Francisco, CA
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.