CostIndexUSA

San Francisco, CA vs Sarasota, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
San Francisco
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Sarasota
102.4
overall index
$1,925/mo rent

Sarasota is moderately cheaper than San Francisco — 11.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Francisco, you would need $70,900 in Sarasota. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing34.3%
San Francisco
194.7
Sarasota
128
🛒 Groceries11.3%
San Francisco
108.5
Sarasota
96.2
🚗 Transportation6.9%
San Francisco
111.5
Sarasota
103.8
🏥 Healthcare6.9%
San Francisco
100.9
Sarasota
93.9
Utilities48.9%
San Francisco
172.6
Sarasota
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sarasota, FL
$70,900
$9,100 less needed in Sarasota

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 115.6) = salary × 0.8858. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

San Francisco, CA

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

Sarasota, FL

Median Home Price
$445,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,925
Housing Index
128
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.3×

San Francisco has 34.3% lower housing costs compared to Sarasota.

Income & Job Market

San Francisco, CA

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

Sarasota, FL

Median Household Income
$78,900
Per Capita Income
$45,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
57,738
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareReal EstateFinanceArts

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

71% of income left after rent (median)

Sarasota, FL
3.4×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.