CostIndexUSA

San Francisco, CA vs Spartanburg, SC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
San Francisco
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent
More AffordableSC
Spartanburg
91.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Spartanburg is significantly cheaper than San Francisco — 21.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Francisco, you would need $63,000 in Spartanburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing65.1%
San Francisco
194.7
Spartanburg
68
🛒 Groceries11.2%
San Francisco
108.5
Spartanburg
96.3
🚗 Transportation7.4%
San Francisco
111.5
Spartanburg
103.2
🏥 Healthcare7.4%
San Francisco
100.9
Spartanburg
93.4
Utilities48.8%
San Francisco
172.6
Spartanburg
88.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Spartanburg, SC
$63,000
$17,000 less needed in Spartanburg

Formula: salary × (91.1 ÷ 115.6) = salary × 0.7881. 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×

Spartanburg, SC

Median Home Price
$272,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
68
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.2×

San Francisco has 65.1% lower housing costs compared to Spartanburg.

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

Spartanburg, SC

Median Household Income
$61,200
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
38,732
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareAutomotiveEducationRetail

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)

Spartanburg, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.