Uprootmap
Santa Cruz vs San Francisco
Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz to San Francisco
In 2022-2023, 782 households filed a move from Santa Cruz to San Francisco (about 980 people, average adjusted gross income $101,052). 776 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,638 in Santa Cruz and $2,635 in San Francisco. Santa Cruz 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 98% in Santa Cruz.
San Francisco averages 259 sunny days, with July highs around 68°F and January nights around 46°F. Santa Cruz is 247 sunny days, 77°F in July, 44°F in January. Commutes average 32 minutes in San Francisco and 27 in Santa Cruz.
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, 782 households moved Santa Cruz → San Francisco (about 980 people, average AGI $101,052). 776 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 Santa Cruz and San Francisco changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 66 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,300
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,200
- Rent a truck
- $400–$750
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Dig into San Francisco
Questions
Is San Francisco cheaper than Santa Cruz after tax and rent?
No. San Francisco leaves about $352 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,638 in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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.