CostIndexUSA

San Francisco, CA vs Scottsdale, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
San Francisco
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent
More AffordableAZ
Scottsdale
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Scottsdale is moderately cheaper than San Francisco — 10.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Francisco, you would need $71,500 in Scottsdale. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing37.8%
San Francisco
194.7
Scottsdale
121.2
🛒 Groceries12.4%
San Francisco
108.5
Scottsdale
95
🚗 Transportation2.1%
San Francisco
111.5
Scottsdale
109.2
🏥 Healthcare2.1%
San Francisco
100.9
Scottsdale
98.8
Utilities45.9%
San Francisco
172.6
Scottsdale
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Scottsdale, AZ
$71,500
$8,500 less needed in Scottsdale

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 115.6) = salary × 0.8936. 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×

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

San Francisco has 37.8% lower housing costs compared to Scottsdale.

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

Scottsdale, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
258,069
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyFinanceReal Estate

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)

Scottsdale, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.