CostIndexUSA

Provo, UT vs San Francisco, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableUT
Provo
98.2
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
CA
San Francisco
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent

Provo is significantly cheaper than San Francisco — 17.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Provo, you would need $94,200 in San Francisco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+87.0%
Provo
104.1
San Francisco
194.7
🛒 Groceries+12.6%
Provo
96.4
San Francisco
108.5
🚗 Transportation+7.3%
Provo
103.9
San Francisco
111.5
🏥 Healthcare+7.3%
Provo
94
San Francisco
100.9
Utilities+119.6%
Provo
78.6
San Francisco
172.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Francisco, CA
$94,200
$14,200 more needed in San Francisco

Formula: salary × (115.6 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 1.1772. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Provo, UT

Median Home Price
$534,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
104.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.4×

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 87.0% higher housing costs compared to Provo.

Income & Job Market

Provo, UT

Median Household Income
$100,800
Per Capita Income
$57,500
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
116,288
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareManufacturingFinance

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).

Provo, UT
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.