Question 1

Is Arlington or San Francisco cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $2,768/month less than in San Francisco, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $3,604/mo in San Francisco.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $72,000/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $143,000/year in San Francisco, CA — a difference of about $71,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or San Francisco cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Arlington, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $7,857/month in Arlington and $12,433/month in San Francisco, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Arlington costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington73	San Francisco54
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,111	$6,879
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$7,857	$12,433
Salary for comfort	$72,000/yr	$143,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$3,604
Median home value	$276,400	$1,380,500
Median household income	$73,519	$141,446
Unemployment	4.1%	3.3%
Housing score	60	15
Jobs score	58	65
Safety score	65	62
Climate score	96	100
Amenities score	73	85
Population	394.8K	836.3K
Summer high / winter low	94° / 35°	67° / 46°

Arlington, TX vs San Francisco, CA