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Data sourced from US Census, BLS, DOT, EPA, Zillow (aggregated)

Last updated: Feb 2026

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ColumbiavsSan Francisco

Last updated: Feb 2026
Data Methodology

Moving from Columbia to San Francisco will cost approximately $362,122 more on median home prices (69.5% higher). Monthly rent is $1,509 more expensive in San Francisco. Note that median income is 13.7% lower in San Francisco.

Housing
69.5% more
Rent
69.5% more
View ColumbiaView San Francisco
San Francisco

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Columbia, MD

Median Home Price$520,757
Monthly Rent$2,170
Median Income$96,138
Population103,467
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Destination

San Francisco, CA

Median Home Price
$882,879+69.5%
Monthly Rent
$3,679+69.5%
Median Income
$82,922-13.7%
Population864,816
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Cities Location Map

Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

Columbia

2015$1,593
2020$1,750
2025$2,170

San Francisco

2015$3,234
2020$2,856
2025$3,679

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in San Francisco.

Columbia

Housing$12,376
Food$6,344
Transport$13,060
Healthcare$7,146
Total$50,738

San Francisco

Housing$14,527
Food$6,850
Transport$14,083
Healthcare$11,373
Total$68,844
Costs

Key Insights

69.5%
Housing Cost
more expensive in San Francisco
$1,509
Monthly Rent Difference
additional cost per month
13.7%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Columbia

Population103,467
Median Age37.9 yrs
Violent Crime Rate435 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1522 per 100k

San Francisco

Population864,816
Median Age38.3 yrs
Violent Crime Rate481 per 100k
Property Crime Rate2165 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

Columbia

435
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1522
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

San Francisco

481
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
2165
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or Columbia?

Columbia is 69.5% cheaper for housing than San Francisco. The median home price in Columbia is $520,757 compared to $882,879 in San Francisco.

What is the rent difference between Columbia and San Francisco?

Monthly rent in San Francisco averages $3,679, while Columbia averages $2,170. That's a difference of $1,509 per month, or $18,106 annually.

How do incomes compare between Columbia and San Francisco?

The median household income in San Francisco is $82,922, which is 13.7% lower than Columbia's median of $96,138.

Which city is safer: Columbia or San Francisco?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 435 per 100k residents, while San Francisco has 481 per 100k. Columbia is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.

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