City vs city
San Francisco, CA vs Seattle, WA
- Rent is 22% lower in Seattle (median $2,030/mo vs $2,476/mo in San Francisco).
- Homes cost 49% less in Seattle ($939k vs $1.4M median value).
- On a $75k salary, you'd have about $691 more a month after taxes and rent in Seattle.
- Seattle has no state income tax on wages; San Francisco does.
- Schools rate higher in Seattle (8.6/10 vs 4.6/10).
- San Francisco has less violent crime (4.9 vs 7.1 per 1,000 residents; the US rate is 3.6).
- San Francisco has milder winters (52°F vs 42°F average).
- San Francisco gets more sun (259 vs 152 sunny days a year).
| San Francisco | Seattle | |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,476/mo | $2,030/mo |
| Median home value | $1.39M | $939k |
| Median household income | $141k | $124k |
| Left each month on $75k (after taxes and rent) | $2,412 | $3,103 |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | None |
| School rating | 4.6/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Violent crime | 1.4× the US rate | 2.0× the US rate |
| Summer average | 70°F | 77°F |
| Winter average | 52°F | 42°F |
| Sunny days a year | 259 | 152 |
| Walk score | 89 | 74 |
| Population | 830,235 | 754,195 |
Population, income, home value and rent: U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Taxes: single filer, 2026 federal and state rates, before any city income tax. Violent crime per 1,000 residents; US rate 3.6.
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