on $100k a year, leaving Spartanburg

change
San Francisco, CA cityscape

next stop after spartanburg

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

$1,946

pricier each month than Spartanburg

A real premium for San Francisco. Worth it only if the city itself is the whole point.
landable, recorded on the san francisco entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$3,146/mo

119% more expensive than Spartanburg(vs $1,434/mo)

02state income tax

9.3%

$233/mo more in state tax than Spartanburg

vs 6.5% in Spartanburg

03after rent

$4,412/mo

$1,946 less than Spartanburg

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

04a house here

$1239k

347% more expensive than Spartanburg

vs $277k in Spartanburg

05metro size

4.6M

vs 383k in Spartanburg

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

312

pleasant days a year, in san francisco.

Spartanburg keeps to 191 pleasant days a year.

Nights and weekends fill up faster. 17.2× more on the calendar than Spartanburg.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

83/100

22% higher than Spartanburg

vs 68/100 in Spartanburg

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

·walk score®

99/100

29% higher than Spartanburg

vs 77/100 in Spartanburg

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

111

455% more than Spartanburg

vs 20 nonstops in Spartanburg

04 · see also

cities that play in san francisco's register:

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