Travel budget and cost of living in San Francisco (California) how much does a trip cost?

San Francisco travel budget

San Francisco: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to San Francisco

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in San Francisco for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in San Francisco compared to United States in 2025

On average, the cost of living in San Francisco in 2025 is 21% higher than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in San Francisco in 2025 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in San Francisco by expense type

Restaurant budget in San Francisco

Lunch

$ 30/person
($ 17 to $ 46)

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31% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

3 course dinner

$ 69/person
($ 46 to $ 114)

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67% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 41

McDonald's meal

$ 14/person
($ 13 to $ 17)

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14% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 9.1 for 500ml
($ 5.7 to $ 12)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.5

Imported beer

$ 3.4 for 330ml
($ 1.7 to $ 5.7)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Cappuccino

$ 6.5/cup
($ 3.9 to $ 10.1)

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17% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.6

Fizzy drink

$ 3.3/can
($ 2.2 to $ 5.7)

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20% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Water bottle

$ 2.6/bottle
($ 2.2 to $ 3.9)

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14% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Hotel and accommodation budget in San Francisco

1-star hotel

$ 108/night
($ 71 to $ 146)

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38% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175

2-star hotel

$ 144/night
($ 59 to $ 268)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 167

3-star hotel

$ 249/night
($ 74 to $ 860)

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2% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 245

4-star hotel

$ 350/night
($ 147 to $ 1115)

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2% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 345

5-star hotel

$ 815/night
($ 337 to $ 1859)

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45% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 564

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 125/month
($ 64 to $ 216)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 177

Room with kitchen

$ 269/month
($ 63 to $ 1316)

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3% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 263

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 271/month
($ 74 to $ 1261)

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22% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223

Cottage or guest house

$ 307/month
($ 177 to $ 507)

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22% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 254

Family room

$ 168/month
($ 72 to $ 241)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 218

Supermarket food budget in San Francisco

Milk

$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 2.1)

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48% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 5.8/500g
($ 3.7 to $ 10)

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49% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Rice

$ 8.2/kg
($ 3.5 to $ 15)

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67% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5

Eggs

$ 6.2/12 eggs
($ 3.9 to $ 7.9)

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53% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Chicken

$ 16/kg
($ 7.4 to $ 31)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 8.2/kg
($ 3.7 to $ 13)

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45% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.7

Tomatoes

$ 9.1/kg
($ 3.4 to $ 14)

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71% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Potatoes

$ 4.6/kg
($ 2.4 to $ 10)

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47% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2

Water bottle

$ 2.9
($ 1.4 to $ 4.5)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4

Public and private transport budget in San Francisco

Bus ticket

$ 3.3/ticket
($ 2.8 to $ 4.5)

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20% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Taxi (per km)

$ 2.3/km
($ 2.3 to $ 2.8)

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22% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 1.5/litre
($ 1.4 to $ 1.7)

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51% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 4.6
($ 4.5 to $ 4.6)

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18% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Leisure activity budget in San Francisco

Cinema

$ 20/ticket
($ 17 to $ 27)

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27% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Tennis

$ 18/hr
($ 18 to $ 46)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in San Francisco

Cigarettes

$ 16/pack
($ 15 to $ 19)

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46% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 69
($ 46 to $ 91)

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20% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 57

Summer dress

$ 50
($ 35 to $ 75)

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7% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 47

Plane ticket budget

London → San Francisco

$ 779
(fair price: $ 656)

Montreal → San Francisco

$ 624
(fair price: $ 533)

Sydney → San Francisco

$ 1426
(fair price: $ 1109)

Dublin → San Francisco

$ 849
(fair price: $ 687)

Manchester → San Francisco

$ 785
(fair price: $ 709)

Melbourne → San Francisco

$ 1668
(fair price: $ 1221)

Dublin → New York City

$ 587
(fair price: $ 504)

Manchester → New York City

$ 703
(fair price: $ 580)

London → New York City

$ 571
(fair price: $ 501)

Edinburgh → New York City

$ 826
(fair price: $ 658)

London → Miami (Florida)

$ 733
(fair price: $ 620)

Manchester → Miami (Florida)

$ 767
(fair price: $ 678)

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