Your Complete Guide to the Cost of Living in San Francisco 2025!

San Francisco, one of the most prominent cities in the USA, is undoubtedly a desirable study destination with its lovely architecture and chic atmosphere. But to study abroad, you need to have the money, which is why we made this comprehensive guide to the average cost of living in San Francisco as a student. Organizing your finances and budget is important for getting the most out of your stay in San Francisco. It is a city worth relocating to because of its amazing food scene, cool climate, historical sites, and thriving business prospects.

About San Francisco

San Francisco is located on Northern California's sunny Pacific coast, at the tip of a peninsula that separates the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The city is well-known for its beautiful scenery, warm climate, and uphill streets. It is also one of the most culturally diverse areas to reside in the United States, and it is home to some of the world's most brilliant brains due to its proximity to Silicon Valley. To gain a sense of San Francisco's history, visit one of its fascinating museums or galleries. Music fans will feel at home in this city, which takes pride in its music scene. San Francisco has something for everyone, whether you appreciate classical concerts, up-and-coming local musicians, or world-famous pop artists.

Cost of Living in San Francisco for International Students

‍The average living expenses in San Francisco are very high for international students. Monthly expenses in San Francisco range from $2,600 to $2,700, covering housing, food, transportation, and utilities. While rent is the largest cost, other important expenses add to the range.  Let's dive into the expenses. 

1. Rent

Rental expenses contribute to the high cost of living in San Francisco CA. The expenses have been on the rise in 2025, due to the growth of the AI industry and the return-to-office rules. In August 2025, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city was over $3,400 per month. While San Francisco has rent control laws that limit how much landlords can increase rent annually, the market shows that overall rental costs are increasing.

How to save on rent costs?
Sharing a place with roommates helps cut housing costs in San Francisco, letting you live in better areas. Use sites like Craigslist, Roomster, or SpareRoom to find options, and try offering a longer lease term. 

2. Housing and Apartments

Your entire cost of living in San Francisco will be greatly influenced by the type of student housing you choose. 

Off-campus housing- Shared apartments cost around $800–$1,200/month, studios, and one-bedrooms range $1,500 to $2,400.
On-campus housing-  Local university dorms, including meal plans, cost an average $1,200-$1,500 monthly.
Other options-  PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) and Build-to-Rent cost $1200-$2,000 with facilities. 

How can you save on student housing costs?

Finding a double occupancy room and staying with friends can help you lower the cost of living in San Francisco. You can find more affordable housing a little beyond the city centre. You might look for dorm-style student housing in San Francisco and commute to your university from there. This way, you can save a lot on the price to live in San Francisco. 

3. Travel Expenses

Travel costs are one important factor in adding to the overall cost of living in San Francisco as a student. Before moving in, you need to explore the public transportation and its expenses properly.

Bus/Muni: San Francisco’s Muni buses are affordable, with a single adult ride of $2.85, a one-day pass available for  $5.70, and monthly passes cost $86 or $104. Underage youths can ride free, and seniors and low-income people have a fare of $1.40.
Cable Cars: Riding San Francisco cable cars gives a unique city experience, costing $9 only for a single ride as of 2025. Monthly expenses of a personal car can exceed $500, considering gas, parking, insurance, and maintenance.
Taxis: Taxi fares start at a rate of $3.50, with additional charges, but provide flexible travel for short or urgent trips.

How to save on travel expenses?

Students can use unlimited ride passes like the SF State Gator Pass or Muni passes. The best thing about the Muni passes is that it is free for those under 18 years of age, and low-income residents have fare reductions using programs like Clipper START. Clipper card also provides transfer discounts. By using certain hacks, you can save on the cost of living in San Francisco.

4. Food and Grocery Expense

We cannot overlook the price of groceries and food while talking about the San Francisco monthly expenses because they vary from person to person. These costs are more difficult to calculate. Monthly groceries for a single person in San Francisco range from $400 to $500. Dining out expenses for a casual meal are $20 for one, and a meal at a mid-range restaurant is $60 or more. 

How can you save on your food expenses?‍

To reduce your cost of living in San Francisco per month, try to prepare simple recipes at home as much as you can. You'll notice that eating out will significantly deplete your financial resources. It could be tough to fit cooking into your daily routine at first, but it will get a lot easier, and you might even start to like it. 

5. Utility Expenses

You need to include the price of basic utilities when calculating the cost of living in San Francisco.

The utilities cost 58 - 60% higher than the national average. It depends on where you live and how frequently you use these utilities. The monthly cost of electricity, hot water, heating, and cooling can range from $221 to $227 per month. WiFi and internet typically cost between $67 a month, and mobile phone charges $65 per month.

How can you save on utilities?

Since utilities are paid by the household rather than per individual, you can save on San Francisco living costs by renting an apartment with friends. You can also select student housing in San Francisco that includes all of your utilities in the rent to lower your cost of living.

6. Tuition fees 

Let's start with what your biggest expense is in your cost of living in San Francisco, which is tuition. Depending on the university and course you've applied for, tuition costs vary. Each university in San Francisco has a different cost of attendance. Your university education will also cost you fees, which pay for registration, tuition, management, exams, and graduation.

Stanford University: It is one of the most renowned institutions in the United States. Stanford's admissions procedure is extremely hard, and the university is one of the most selective, with an admittance rate of only 4.3%. The tuition fees cost $67,731 yearly. 
Berkeley University: Berkeley is one of the most sought-after institutions in the world by international students due to its environment and educational options. The University of Berkeley provides 106 four-year bachelor's degrees, 97 PhD, and 88 master's programmes in addition to its medical courses. According to the QS world rankings, it is ranked 27th.
San Francisco State University: One of the renowned public universities in San Francisco is San Francisco State University. It has 23 campuses and offers 118 bachelor's degrees, 94 master's degrees, and 5 doctoral degrees within the California State University system. San Francisco State is regarded as a reasonably priced university. It has a 67.3% acceptance rate. The tuition fees cost $8,256 for full-time students.

How can you save on tuition fees?

Numerous scholarships are offered to students by universities and the government to help fill that financial gap. Scholarships are an excellent method to lower your cost of life in San Francisco. To reduce your expenses, there are numerous government-funded scholarships available; All you need to do is inquire with your university to see whether it offers students any scholarship options.

7. Miscellaneous Expenses (Shopping, Personal Care, Entertainment)

Your cost of living in San Francisco as a student will be considerably impacted by the money you spend on recreation. Your spending plan will cover the cost of your gym membership, shopping, outings, museum visits, and sporting events. These costs could change based on your tastes, but if you save every month, you should be able to afford the costs. Personal expenses like clothing and personal care cost $175–$300 per month. Entertainment, including movies, gym, and nightlife, costs $125-$250 per month. 

How can you cut down on these expenses?

These should be the first costs to be cut if you feel the need to lower your cost of living in San Francisco, because the majority of them are not essential. Plan to replace some of these expenses with less expensive alternatives. For instance, if you want to reduce your gym subscription, look into other fairly priced gyms in the area. Ask around at your university, which probably has a free gym facility you may use. 

How to save your money while living on a budget?

The high cost of living in San Francisco comes from its expensive housing market, with high demand and limited space. The high state and local taxes, including special city fees, add to overall expenses. The thriving tech economy also increases demand for housing and services.  The exact cost of living can vary depending on individual needs and lifestyle choices, such as whether you live with roommates, own a car, and your spending habits on entertainment and dining. Students can save their money by exploring neighborhoods outside the city center, staying aware of spending and shopping, and taking advantage of student discounts if available. 

We tried to break down your cost of living in San Fran to make planning your visit there simpler. It's not always easy to manage your money, so we certainly hope you can use this advice as a guide while you develop your budget. The standard of living in San Francisco is high, but it's a city with a lot to experience and learn. Therefore, any student who can study in the USA.