As of June 2008, a family of 4 with two adults working full time at San Francisco's minimum wage of $9.36 per hour would earn $38,937 annually, just barely missing the eligibility threshold for their children to receive subsidized school meals (the cutoff for eligibility for this family is $38,203 in 2007-08.) Yet due to the high cost of living in San Francisco, it is nearly impossible for this family to raise their children on less than $39,000 per year. In almost every other city in the country, a similar family earning a similar income would be far better off. While $39,000 a year for a family of 4 is well above the poverty level in most of the United States, it is well below the poverty level in San Francisco.

The income ceiling for eligibility for free meals is set by Congress and the USDA, and is the same for the 48 contiguous states; rates for Alaska and Hawaii are higher. To understand why the rate for the 48 states may be appropriate for most of the country, but not for San Francisco, imagine two families of 4, each with 2 adults working a 40 hour week at $9.36 per hour (minimum wage in SF). Both families earn about $39,000 annually and just barely missed qualifying for subsidized school meals for their children in 2007-08. Given an identical income, how much higher is the cost of living for the family in San Francisco than it is for the family in another city? Compare the buying power of these two families.

The 48 contiguous states (selected cities)

Cost of living in SF compared to Portland, Maine +61.9%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 61.9% higher than in Portland, ME. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Portland (who just missed eligibility for subsidized meals for their children in 2007-08) has the buying power of a similar family earning $63,129 in San Francisco. Put another way, the family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning just $24,093 in Portland.

Cost of living in SF compared to Boston, Mass. +16.7%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 16.7% higher than in Boston, MA. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Boston has the buying power of a similar family earning $45,531 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $33,405 in Boston.

Cost of living in SF compared to New York, NY -6.2%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 6.2% lower than in New York, NY. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in New York City has the buying power of a similar family earning $36,590 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $41,568 in New York City.

Cost of living in SF compared to Philadelphia, Pa. +37.5%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 37.5% higher than in Philadelphia, PA A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Philadelphia has the buying power of a similar family earning $53,622 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $28,365 in Philadelphia.

Cost of living in SF compared to Baltimore, Maryland +52.3%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 52.3% higher than in Baltimore, MD. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Baltimore has the buying power of a similar family earning $59,389 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $25,610 in Baltimore.

Cost of living in SF compared to Atlanta, Georgia +45.2%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 45.2% higher than in Atlanta, GA. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Atlanta has the buying power of a similar family earning $56,613 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $26,866 in Atlanta.

Cost of living in SF compared to Miami, Florida +42.3%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 42.3% higher than in Miami, FL. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Miami has the buying power of a similar family earning $55,506 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $27,402 in Miami.

Cost of living in SF compared to Cleveland, Ohio +61.4%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 61.4% higher than in Cleveland, OH. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Cleveland has the buying power of a similar family earning $62,941 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $24,165 in Cleveland.

Cost of living in SF compared to Detroit, Michigan +55.0%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 55.0% than in Detroit, MI. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Detroit has the buying power of a similar family earning $60,464 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $25,155 in Detroit.

Cost of living in SF compared to Chicago, Illinois +35.4%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 35.4% higher than in Chicago, IL. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Chicago has the buying power of a similar family earning $52,807 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $28,802 in Chicago.

Cost of living in SF compared to St. Louis, Missouri +56.7%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 56.7% higher than in St. Louis, MO. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in St. Louis has the buying power of a similar family earning $61,132 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $24,880 in St. Louis.

Cost of living in SF compared to Lincoln, Nebraska +73.3%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 73.3% higher than in Lincoln, NE. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Lincoln has the buying power of a similar family earning $67,600 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $22,499 in Lincoln.

Cost of living in SF compared to Dallas, Texas +54.6%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 54.6% higher than in Dallas, TX. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Dallas has the buying power of a similar family earning $60,312 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $25,218 in Dallas.

Cost of living in SF compared to Helena, Montana +81.4%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 81.4% higher than in Helena, MT. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Helena has the buying power of a similar family earning $70,740 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $21,501 in Helena.

Cost of living in SF compared to Seattle, Washington +38.8%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 38.8% higher than in Seattle, WA. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Seattle has the buying power of a similar family earning $54,141 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $28,093 in Seattle.

Cost of living in SF compared to Reno, Nevada +62.6%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 62.6% higher than in Reno, NV. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Reno has the buying power of a similar family earning $63,411 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $23,986 in Reno.

Cost of living in SF compared to Phoenix, Arizona +57.5%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 57.5% higher than in Phoenix, AZ. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Phoenix has the buying power of a similar family earning $61,438 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $24,756 in Phoenix.

Cost of living in SF compared to Sacramento, CA +50.4%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 50.4% higher than in Sacramento, CA. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Sacramento has the buying power of a similar family earning $58,653 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $25,932 in Sacramento.

Cost of living in SF compared to Los Angeles, CA +11.7%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 11.7% higher than in Los Angeles, CA. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Los Angeles has the buying power of a similar family earning $43,573 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $34,906 in Los Angeles.

Cost of living in SF compared to San Diego, CA +16.7%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 16.7% higher than in San Diego, CA. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in San Diego has the buying power of a similar family earning $45,514 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $33,418 in San Diego.

Alaska and Hawaii

Cost of living in SF compared to Fairbanks, Alaska +46.2%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 46.2% higher than in Fairbanks, AK. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Fairbanks has the buying power of a similar family earning $57,001 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $26,863 in Fairbanks.

Cost of living in SF compared to Juneau, Alaska +22.2%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 22.2% higher than in Juneau, AK. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Juneau has the buying power of a similar family earning $47,645 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $31,923 in Juneau.

Cost of living in SF compared to Honolulu, Hawaii 3.5%
The cost of living in San Francisco is 3.5% higher than in Honolulu, HI. A family of 4 with two working adults earning $39,000 in Honolulu has the buying power of a similar family earning $40,354 in San Francisco. The family of 4 earning $39,000 in San Francisco has the same buying power as a similar family earning $37,690 in Honolulu.

(calculations by Cost of Living Wizard - http://salary.nytimes.com/costoflivingwizard/layoutscripts/coll_start.asp)

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Page last updated Monday June 16, 2008