Los Angeles, CA vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley: Housing Market Comparison (2026)

Side-by-side Alpha Scores, affordability, momentum, supply, jobs, and rental yield · scores computed September 2026

Los Angeles, CA vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley side by side

Metric● Los Angeles, CA● San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley
Alpha Score2441
Price Momentum51—
Inventory Health—97
Affordability12
Economic Strength3642
Rental Yield21
Median Sale Price$922K—
Price-to-Income10.28.4
Payment-to-Income62.0%52.8%
Months of Supply4—
Gross Rental Yield2.5%2.6%
Overvaluation Index7040

Highlighted = the stronger read for that metric (supply, valuation, and payment burden are better when lower). Income/rent inputs lag annually.

How Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley compare, dimension by dimension

  • Affordability: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley leads — Los Angeles, CA 1/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 2/100.
  • Economic Strength: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley leads — Los Angeles, CA 36/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 42/100.
  • Rental Yield: Los Angeles, CA leads — Los Angeles, CA 2/100 vs San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley 1/100.

Frequently asked questions

Which has a higher Alpha Score, Los Angeles, CA or San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley?

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley scores higher — 41 vs 24 out of 100. The Alpha Score is a 0-100 composite of price momentum, inventory health, affordability, economic strength, and rental yield.

Is Los Angeles, CA or San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley more affordable?

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley is more affordable on our affordability dimension. Price-to-income is 10.2 in Los Angeles, CA and 8.4 in San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley.

Want to swap in other cities, change the metrics, or chart the trend over time? Customize this comparison → in the interactive Compare tool. Or read the Los Angeles, CA market brief and the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley brief.