CostIndexUSA

Ontario, CA vs San Francisco, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCA
Ontario
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent
CA
San Francisco
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent

Ontario is moderately cheaper than San Francisco — 8.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Ontario, you would need $86,900 in San Francisco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+50.6%
Ontario
129.3
San Francisco
194.7
🛒 Groceries+7.0%
Ontario
101.4
San Francisco
108.5
🚗 Transportation+4.9%
Ontario
106.3
San Francisco
111.5
🏥 Healthcare+4.9%
Ontario
96.2
San Francisco
100.9
Utilities+16.2%
Ontario
148.6
San Francisco
172.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Francisco, CA
$86,900
$6,900 more needed in San Francisco

Formula: salary × (115.6 ÷ 106.4) = salary × 1.0865. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Ontario, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

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 50.6% higher housing costs compared to Ontario.

Income & Job Market

Ontario, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
175,265
Top Industries
LogisticsHealthcareManufacturingRetailFinance

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).

Ontario, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% 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.