CostIndexUSA

Newark, NJ vs San Francisco, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNJ
Newark
112.6
overall index
$3,225/mo rent
CA
San Francisco
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent

Newark is slightly cheaper than San Francisco — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Newark, you would need $82,100 in San Francisco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+31.0%
Newark
148.6
San Francisco
194.7
🛒 Groceries1.6%
Newark
110.3
San Francisco
108.5
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Newark
111.1
San Francisco
111.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Newark
100.5
San Francisco
100.9
Utilities+35.9%
Newark
127
San Francisco
172.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Francisco, CA
$82,100
$2,100 more needed in San Francisco

Formula: salary × (115.6 ÷ 112.6) = salary × 1.0266. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Newark, NJ

Median Home Price
$703,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,225
Housing Index
148.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

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 31.0% higher housing costs compared to Newark.

Income & Job Market

Newark, NJ

Median Household Income
$95,200
Per Capita Income
$54,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
311,549
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsGovernmentFinance

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).

Newark, NJ
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

59% 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.