same $100k income, fresh start from Reno

change
San Francisco, CA cityscape

instead of reno

San Francisco

ca · metro 4.6M

photo: Andrew Whitmore / unsplash

a dispatch from

san francisco

CA

37.77°N

122.42°W

San Francisco is hills, fog, Mission burritos the size of forearms, and pastel Victorians stacked like dominoes. Karl the Fog has his own Instagram, the cable cars are still mechanically pulled by cables running under the street, and the Pacific shows up at the end of every west-bound avenue. The food is wildly good, the views are theatrical, and yes, you'll get cardio just walking to the corner store.

metro4.6M

in our guides

#1

of 10

Most walkable cities in America

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for live music and arts

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for health and wellness

read the guide
#4

of 10

Most livable cities in America

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best places to move in 2026

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for parks and green space

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities for work-life balance

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to escape the heat

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities for a $100k salary

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities for outdoor athletes

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities with year-round outdoor weather

read the guide
#2

of 10

Best cities for cyclists

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities to live in California

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for foodies

read the guide
#1

of 10

Best cities for dog owners

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities with mild winters

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$2,013

more expensive each month than Reno

San Francisco is the expensive option. The argument has to be entirely about the place, not the price.
landable, recorded on the san francisco entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,146/mo

65% more expensive than Reno(vs $1,908/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$775/mo more in state tax than Reno

vs 0% in Reno

03after rent

$4,412/mo

$2,013 less than Reno

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$1239k

116% more expensive than Reno

vs $574k in Reno

05metro size

4.6M

vs 565k in Reno

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

312

pleasant days a year, in san francisco.

Reno only logs 201 pleasant days.

150% more happening than in Reno.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

83/100

17% higher than Reno

vs 71/100 in Reno

Closest outdoor draw: Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 1.5 mi.

·walk score®

99/100

4% higher than Reno

vs 95/100 in Reno

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

111

754% more than Reno

vs 13 nonstops in Reno

04 · see also

neighbors of san francisco on the map of tradeoffs:

see also

san diego

$256/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

honolulu

$162/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

los angeles

$247/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare san francisco with:

San DiegoHonoluluLos Angeles