Side-by-side · Software Engineer
San Francisco vs Los Angeles
Move Value
−$864
real, after tax + COL · per year
Career Velocity
8/10
SF: 10/10 → regression
10-Year Outlook
−$54k
± $94k confidence band
| San Francisco | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|
| P50 salary, role | $187k | $162k |
| State + local income tax | 7.2% | 6.9% |
| After-tax income | $126k | $110k |
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 195 | 173 |
| Median 1BR rent | $3206/mo | $2892/mo |
| Real purchasing power | $64k | $64k |
| Career Velocity (this role) | 10/10 | 8/10 |
| Career Velocity v1 (0–100) | 81 · High | 18 · Thin |
| Walkability (0–10) | 9 | 5 |
| Outdoors (0–10) | 9 | 9 |
Who should make this move
Choose Los Angeles if…
- ·Creative capital with coastal pay and a car-shaped lifestyle.
Stay in San Francisco if…
- ·Career Velocity is higher in SF (10/10 vs 8/10) for your field.
- ·You'd lose $864 of real income annually.
- ·Your 10-year picture is $54k better if you stay.
- ·You're optimizing for what SF uniquely offers: highest tech salaries in the country — if you can stomach the cost.
A note on the numbers: Salaries are role-P50 from BLS-style bands. Tax is statutory state + local at ~$110k single. The 10-year outlook uses a 3-year promotion cadence with a small velocity adjustment, 2.5% COL inflation, and discounts to today's dollars. Full assumptions on the methodology page.