Uprootmap
Boulder vs San Francisco
Boulder and San Francisco
Photo: Daniel L. Lu / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in San Francisco are under the US rate in this release, 5.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Boulder to San Francisco
In 2022-2023, 212 households filed a move from Boulder to San Francisco (about 264 people, average adjusted gross income $111,443). 263 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,647 in Boulder and $2,635 in San Francisco. Boulder has a state tax on wages. San Francisco has a state tax on wages. Local pay in San Francisco is 134% of the national level for the same work, against 100% in Boulder.
San Francisco averages 259 sunny days, with July highs around 68°F and January nights around 46°F. Boulder is 250 sunny days, 73°F in July, 9°F in January. Commutes average 32 minutes in San Francisco and 23 in Boulder.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 212 households moved Boulder → San Francisco (about 264 people, average AGI $111,443). 263 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Boulder and San Francisco changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,104 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $3,050–$5,750
- Container or pod
- $2,150–$4,050
- Rent a truck
- $1,200–$2,250
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Dig into San Francisco
Questions
Is San Francisco cheaper than Boulder after tax and rent?
No. San Francisco leaves about $1,713 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,647 in Boulder and $2,635 in San Francisco.
Does San Francisco have state income tax?
San Francisco is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Boulder to San Francisco?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.