Salary Comparison
Software Developers: Alpharetta vs San Francisco
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Alpharetta, GA
$129,923/yr
San Francisco, CA
$174,910/yr
Our recommendation: San Francisco, CA
San Francisco offers $1,224 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Alpharetta
San Francisco
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$129,923
$174,910
$44,987
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$7,904
$10,640
$2,736
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
102
155
-53 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,643
$4,155
$1,512
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,520
$2,680
$1,160
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$5,261
$6,485
$1,224
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
2.99×
2.56×
+0.43×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
9/10 (Comfortable)
9/10 (Comfortable)
+0
A vs B
Alpharetta — Full Details
San Francisco — Full Details
Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.