Los Angeles vs San Francisco
Side-by-side rent vs buy analysis comparing these two markets
Overall Comparison
Both cities are evenly matched
Both cities offer similar value for rent vs buy decisions.
Median Home PriceBETTER
$770,000
Median Rent
$2,850/mo
Price-to-Rent RatioBETTER
22.5
Property Tax RateTIE
0.73%
Price Change (1Y)BETTER
+5.3%
Price Change (5Y)BETTER
+39.0%
Break-Even Years
13 years
10-Year Wealth Difference
$80,000
Median Home Price
$795,000
Median RentBETTER
$2,750/mo
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.1
Property Tax RateTIE
0.73%
Price Change (1Y)
+5.2%
Price Change (5Y)
+28.0%
Break-Even YearsBETTER
12 years
10-Year Wealth DifferenceBETTER
$75,000
Key Differences
Home Prices
Los Angeles's median home price of $770,000 is lower than San Francisco's $795,000 by 3%.
Monthly Rent
Renting in Los Angeles costs $2,850/mo compared to $2,750/mo in San Francisco—a difference of $100/mo.
Buy vs Rent Verdict
Both cities currently favor renting.
Break-Even Timeline
Buying breaks even in 13 years in Los Angeles vs 12 years in San Francisco.
Run Your Own Numbers
This comparison uses median values. Your income, savings, and goals matter. Use our Buy vs Rent calculator to get a personalized analysis.