Denver vs San Francisco: Cost of Living, Taxes, Laws
Denver
Colorado state data
Moderate tax burden · COL index 110
Wins 10 categories
San Francisco
California state data
Moderate tax burden · COL index 142
Wins 2 categories
Data reflects Colorado vs California state-level figures. City-specific data coming soon.
Denver sits in Colorado, which has flat 4.4% income tax, 6th lowest property tax, median home $545K. San Francisco sits in California, which has income tax up to 13.3%, 19th lowest property tax, median home $790K. Colorado costs a median household about $3,500 a year less in state and local taxes than California, mostly because property tax on a median home runs $2,616 a year against $5,609 in California. Read the full Colorado vs California comparison.
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
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Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
10
Denver
2
San Francisco
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Score For My Profile →People Also Ask
Why are people moving out of Denver?
Question i'm going to pay this much do I still want the trade-offs. Because that's where people make decisions. They don't just ask is Colorado expensive.
Is $200,000 a good salary in San Francisco?
In America, a $200,000 salary is pretty good. In the U.S., the average annual salary in 2026 is $64,505 per Forbes; it's $79,900 here in California. A $200K salary puts you well above twice that average. Still, in the Bay Area, it won't go far when you're shopping for a house.
How does the cost of living in Denver compare to San Francisco?
Is it more expensive to live in San Francisco or Denver? Overall cost of living in Denver, CO is 33.1% lower than in San Francisco, CA. The average listing price for a home in Denver, CO is $665,372, which is 52.0% lower than San Francisco, CA.
What is the nicest city in Colorado to live in?