Cost of living comparison

compared to

Copenhagen vs. San Francisco Cost of Living Summary

Copenhagen is 2.1% cheaper than San Francisco.

Restaurants
pay 19.8% more in Copenhagen
Groceries
pay 13.6% less in Copenhagen
Transportation
pay 45.8% more in Copenhagen
Housing
pay 36.4% less in Copenhagen
Childcare
pay 69.5% less in Copenhagen
Entertainment and Sports
pay 4.6% less in Copenhagen
Clothing
pay 44.0% more in Copenhagen

The cost of transportation, clothing, and restaurants in Copenhagen are more expensive than in San Francisco. Expenses including childcare, housing, groceries, and entertainment and sports are lower in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen vs. San Francisco Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Copenhagen instead of San Francisco, you would:

pay 19.8% more for restaurants

 
San Francisco
Copenhagen
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $30.00
 
$28.17
DKK180.68
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$14.50
 
$15.65
DKK100.38
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $3.30
 
$4.62
DKK29.63

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pay 13.6% less for groceries

 
San Francisco
Copenhagen
Bread
1 loaf
$5.06
 
$4.89
DKK31.35
Local cheese (8 oz) $11.69
 
$7.87
DKK50.48
Milk (1 gallon) $5.85
 
$8.66
DKK55.57

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pay 45.8% more for transportation

 
San Francisco
Copenhagen
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.89
 
$8.55
DKK54.84
Monthly public transit pass $90.00
 
$125.18
DKK803.04
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $36,753.89
 
$50,855.90
DKK326,235.49

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pay 36.4% less for housing

 
San Francisco
Copenhagen
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$68.78
 
$42.75
DKK274.25
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $3,446.66
 
$2,049.88
DKK13,149.80
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $2,736.00
 
$1,435.45
DKK9,208.25

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pay 69.5% less for childcare

 
San Francisco
Copenhagen
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $3,236.11
 
$612.48
DKK3,929.01
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $42,000.00
 
$17,619.61
DKK113,028.05

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pay 4.6% less for entertainment and sports

 
San Francisco
Copenhagen
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $8.00
 
$9.39
DKK60.23
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.98
 
$6.78
DKK43.51
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$14.00
 
$10.17
DKK65.25

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pay 44.0% more for clothing

 
San Francisco
Copenhagen
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$70.00
 
$127.11
DKK815.38
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$48.82
 
$57.77
DKK370.60
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$102.00
 
$136.42
DKK875.13

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025
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