City cost comparison
Los Angeles vs San Francisco
Housing, childcare, healthcare, food, and education — side by side for families weighing Los Angeles, CA against San Francisco, CA.
Comparison matrix
Emerald badges flag the cheaper city for each line item; rose marks when the other city wins on cost.
Illustrative estimate — see methodology
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HousingFamily housing premium / month | $1,400 | $2,200 | +36% cheaper in Los Angeles |
| ChildcareAvg monthly (infant → school-age) | $1,670 | $2,460 | +32% cheaper in Los Angeles |
| HealthcareFamily premium share + child OOP / month | $755 | $880 | +14% cheaper in Los Angeles |
| FoodPer child / month | $420 | $510 | +18% cheaper in Los Angeles |
| EducationAnnual baseline ÷ 12 | $100 | $124 | +19% cheaper in Los Angeles |
Curated planning baselines (updated 2026-01-15 / 2026-01-15) — not live survey pulls. Verify local rates before major decisions.