Rent vs Buy Calculator — San Francisco, CA
Prefilled with San Francisco estimates: a ~$1,250,000 home (about $250,000 for 20% down) versus ~$3,400/mo rent. California's effective property tax of 0.75% — near the U.S. average (~1.1%) — adds roughly $9,375/yr, and typical homeowners insurance runs about $1,700/yr. Adjust every field to your actual home below.
Is it better to rent or buy in San Francisco?
There's no universal answer — it hinges on how long you'll stay, what you'd earn investing the down payment instead, and California's tax and insurance costs. Property tax is the biggest local lever: at 0.75% on a $1,250,000 home that's about $9,375 every year, before insurance and maintenance. Use the break-even readout above to see the year buying pulls ahead, and the appreciation rate that flips the decision.
What makes San Francisco, CA different
- Median home price estimate: $1,250,000
- Typical monthly rent estimate: $3,400
- California effective property tax: 0.75% (~$9,375/yr here)
- California avg. homeowners insurance: $1,700/yr
Starting estimates as of 2026-01 — see the methodology & sources.