Redondo Beach, CA vs San Francisco, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

San Francisco, CA has a modeled overall cost index 24.6% higher than Redondo Beach, CA.

Redondo Beach, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$3,320 / month
San Francisco, CA · modeled 2BR rent
$3,570 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Redondo Beach, CA and San Francisco, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $2,605/month in San Francisco, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $181,265 in San Francisco, CA

Regional cost estimates: Redondo Beach, CA uses Los Angeles, CA. San Francisco, CA uses San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 24.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,605
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$31.3K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Redondo Beach, CA

Population:68K
Cost Index:
158.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.49M

San Francisco, CA

Population:874K
Cost Index:
197.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.25M

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Redondo Beach, CA

The Golden State

68K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 68K residents.

San Francisco, CA

The Golden State

874K
Population
State Tax
Yes
Climate
Mediterranean

Notable Facts

  • •Global technology hub
  • •Historic cable cars
  • •Major startup ecosystem

Major Industries

TechnologyFinanceTourismBiotechnology

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Redondo Beach, CA vs San Francisco, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 53.6%
Redondo Beach, CA
$3,988
San Francisco, CA
$6,126
Difference
$2,138
more
Other
↑ 18.8%
Redondo Beach, CA
$990
San Francisco, CA
$1,176
Difference
$186
more
Transportation
↑ 9.6%
Redondo Beach, CA
$1,234
San Francisco, CA
$1,353
Difference
$119
more
Healthcare
↑ 33.5%
Redondo Beach, CA
$332
San Francisco, CA
$443
Difference
$111
more
Groceries
↑ 16.7%
Redondo Beach, CA
$623
San Francisco, CA
$727
Difference
$104
more
All Utilities
↓ 15.8%
Redondo Beach, CA
$334
San Francisco, CA
$281
Difference
$52.79
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$2,380
To$2,460
↑ $80.00
1 Bed
From$2,660
To$2,950
↑ $290
2 Bed
From$3,320
To$3,570
↑ $250
3 Bed
From$4,210
To$4,560
↑ $350
Redondo Beach, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,490–$2,830/mo

San Francisco, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,510–$3,910/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Redondo Beach, CA
$10,105
Monthly in San Francisco, CA
$2,605
Difference

Home Values

Redondo Beach
San Francisco
$1.49M
Median Value
$1.25M
↑ +0.3%
YoY Change
↑ +3.7%
↑ +27.6%
5-Year Change
↓ -7.5%
$1.37M - $1.60M
Price Range
$693K - $2.12M

Homes in San Francisco are 16% less expensive than Redondo Beach

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Redondo Beach, CA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
California State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,530/month
$102.4K

San Francisco, CA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
California State Tax
Effective: 7.1%
$10.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.8%
$47.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,530/month
$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Redondo Beach, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%
Property Tax:0.8%

San Francisco, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Environment

Redondo Beach
San Francisco
80 Moderate
Air Quality
33 Good
10.4%
Good Air Days
76%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🔥🌊🌅
Top Hazards
🌊🫨
▲+2.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.0°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
1 days
▲+2.6°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.0°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
1 days

Before moving from Redondo Beach, CA to San Francisco, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in San Francisco, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Redondo Beach, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Redondo Beach to San Francisco moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to San Francisco, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Redondo Beach, CA vs San Francisco, CA

How do the cost estimates for Redondo Beach, CA and San Francisco, CA compare?

San Francisco, CA has a modeled overall cost index 24.6% higher than Redondo Beach, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Redondo Beach, CA, the model estimates $181,265 in San Francisco, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Redondo Beach, CA and San Francisco, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,320/month in Redondo Beach, CA and $3,570/month in San Francisco, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

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