Cost of living comparison · updated September 2026
San Francisco, California vs Sydney, New South Wales: cost of living
Using the same one-person balanced basket, Sydney, New South Wales is 24% less expensive than San Francisco, California. The total is a starting point: your home, commute and household choices determine the budget you will actually need.
Read the result in context
Start with the total, then inspect the categories and household scenarios before you turn the percentage into a salary or relocation decision.
The short answer
Sydney, New South Wales is 24% less expensive.
$1,240 separates the monthly baselines before you change the household, lifestyle or neighborhood assumptions.
Sydney, New South Wales is lower than San Francisco, California.
Illustration for $6,500 take-home pay in San Francisco, California.
$1,000 separates the two category estimates.
Direct answer
What does the difference mean each month?
The estimated monthly budget is $5,100 in San Francisco, California and $3,860 in Sydney, New South Wales. That is a difference of $1,240 per month before personal adjustments.
This comparison keeps the same household and lifestyle on both sides. It answers one narrow question: what happens when the same recurring basket is repriced in another city? It does not decide which neighborhood, salary, tax system or lifestyle will fit you best.
Monthly cost breakdown for San Francisco, California and Sydney, New South Wales
| Category | San Francisco, California | Sydney, New South Wales | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $3,300 | $2,300 | −$1,000 |
| Groceries | $640 | $560 | −$80 |
| Dining out | $220 | $190 | −$30 |
| Transport | $145 | $130 | −$15 |
| Home utilities | $195 | $175 | −$20 |
| Internet & mobile | $75 | $70 | −$5 |
| Insurance & protection | $20 | $15 | −$5 |
| Healthcare | $115 | $90 | −$25 |
| Medicines & pharmacy | $35 | $30 | −$5 |
| Personal care | $30 | $25 | −$5 |
| Clothing & footwear | $40 | $30 | −$10 |
| Household goods | $20 | $20 | Same |
| Household services | $35 | $30 | −$5 |
| Fitness & wellness | $90 | $75 | −$15 |
| Entertainment & subscriptions | $60 | $50 | −$10 |
| Leisure | $75 | $65 | −$10 |
| Total | $5,100 | $3,860 | −$1,240 |
Where the comparison changes most
Housing is the largest modeled pressure point, but the order matters for your own decision. Check the first four categories below before you spend time optimizing smaller lines.
Housing
San Francisco, California $3,300 · Sydney, New South Wales $2,300 · $1,000 lower in Sydney, New South Wales
Home size, tenure and neighborhoodGroceries
San Francisco, California $640 · Sydney, New South Wales $560 · $80 lower in Sydney, New South Wales
Household size, diet and routineDining out
San Francisco, California $220 · Sydney, New South Wales $190 · $30 lower in Sydney, New South Wales
Meal frequency and local restaurant pricesHealthcare
San Francisco, California $115 · Sydney, New South Wales $90 · $25 lower in Sydney, New South Wales
Appointments, dental care and out-of-pocket treatmentSalary translation
A cost difference is not automatically a salary offer.
If you take home $6,500 in San Francisco, California, repricing the same balanced basket in Sydney, New South Wales implies about $4,920 per month. The difference is $1,580, but your gross offer can move differently after tax, benefits, pension and employer coverage.
Current take-home$6,500San Francisco, California
→
Spending-equivalent$4,920Sydney, New South Wales
Use the salary calculator for your own income, household and lifestyle settings.
Open salary calculatorHousehold scenarios
The gap changes when the household changes.
Housing and food do not scale in exactly the same way for every household. These balanced scenarios show how the recurring comparison moves when the same city pair is used for one person, a couple or a family.
HouseholdSan Francisco, CaliforniaSydney, New South WalesDifference
One person$5,100$3,860−$1,240
Couple$7,900$5,980−$1,920
Family of four$11,210$8,480−$2,730
Use the result correctly
A comparison narrows the decision. It does not make it for you.
Replace broad assumptions with the details that actually determine your move. The closer the headline totals are, the more important those details become.
Price the neighborhoodUse the home size, lease terms and commute you would really choose.
Translate take-home payCompare net income and benefits, not only gross salary.
Check your marginLook at what remains after core costs, savings and recurring obligations.
Keep the date visiblePrices, exchange rates and housing markets change at different speeds.
Comparison FAQ
Questions that change the answer.
Use these checks when the headline percentage looks surprising or when the two cities appear unusually close.
Which city is more expensive, San Francisco, California or Sydney, New South Wales?
Sydney, New South Wales is modeled as 24% less expensive than San Francisco, California for one person with a balanced lifestyle. The result is driven most by housing.
How much salary would I need in Sydney, New South Wales?
If you currently take home $6,500 per month in San Francisco, California, the spending-equivalent estimate for Sydney, New South Wales is $4,920. This is a budget translation, not a market salary prediction or a tax calculation.
What changes the San Francisco, California and Sydney, New South Wales comparison most?
Housing has the largest modeled difference at $1,000 per month. Housing, transport and household size can outweigh smaller category changes, so replace those assumptions first.
Why is the reverse percentage different?
The forward percentage uses San Francisco, California as the base. Reversing the comparison uses Sydney, New South Wales as the base, so San Francisco, California is 32% more expensive in the reverse statement. Both calculations can be correct because the denominator changes.
Do these city estimates include taxes or moving costs?
No. The comparison covers recurring living categories in USD equivalent. Income tax, benefits, savings, debt, childcare, education, deposits, visas and one-time moving costs need to be added for your situation.