Updated May 2026 · Redfin
Los Angeles vs San Francisco: real estate market, May 2026
A side-by-side housing-market snapshot for Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA for May 2026: Los Angeles at a $1.05M median versus $1.77M in San Francisco, plus days on market and the buyer-vs-seller balance, straight from the Redfin Data Center.
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $1.05M • 0.0% | $1.77M ▲ +14.6% |
| Days on market | 50 ▲ +6.4% | 16 ▼ -15.8% |
| Homes for sale | 7,770 ▼ -11.5% | 925 ▼ -33.7% |
| Sale-to-list | 99.5% ▼ -0.3% | 115.6% ▲ +8.7% |
| Months of supply | 4.9 ▼ -10.9% | 1.6 ▼ -42.9% |
| Homes sold | 1,601 ▼ -0.6% | 561 ▲ +11.1% |
Figures from Redfin Data Center. Verify against your MLS before posting.
The verdict
As of May 2026, Los Angeles is the more affordable of the two at a $1,054,500 median sale price, about 40% below San Francisco ($1,770,000). San Francisco is the faster-moving market, with homes going under contract in about 16 days versus 50 in Los Angeles.
Which market fits your client?
For a buyer client, Los Angeles offers a little more breathing room, with 4.9 months of supply against 1.6 in San Francisco, which usually means less bidding pressure. For a seller client, San Francisco is the tighter market, with a 115.6% sale-to-list ratio. On price momentum, San Francisco is appreciating faster (+14.6% vs 0.0% year over year).
How we compare these markets
We built LOKAL to pull Los Angeles's and San Francisco's numbers straight from the Redfin Data Center, so an agent and a client compare like for like. For May 2026 we recorded a $1.05M median in Los Angeles and a $1.77M median in San Francisco, against roughly $1.05M a year earlier in 2025. Redfin has published this market data monthly since 2020, which is what lets us show year-over-year change here in 2026. For complementary demographics on each metro — population, median household income — see the U.S. Census Bureau. LOKAL is independent and not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your MLS before you publish.
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Full Los Angeles and San Francisco market updates
Frequently asked
- Is Los Angeles or San Francisco more affordable?
- As of May 2026, Los Angeles is the more affordable market at a $1,054,500 median sale price, about 40% below San Francisco ($1,770,000), per the Redfin Data Center.
- Which market moves faster, Los Angeles or San Francisco?
- San Francisco moves faster: a typical listing goes under contract in about 16 days, versus 50 days in Los Angeles (May 2026).
- Is Los Angeles or San Francisco better for buyers right now?
- Los Angeles gives buyers a little more room, with 4.9 months of supply versus 1.6 in San Francisco. More months of supply usually means less competition and more negotiating leverage for buyers.
- Where do these Los Angeles and San Francisco numbers come from?
- Both metros draw on the Redfin Data Center, refreshed monthly. LOKAL turns the figures into a ready-to-post carousel, story and square for either city. LOKAL is not affiliated with Redfin; always verify against your local MLS before quoting figures to clients.
More Los Angeles comparisons
Data: Redfin · Redfin Data Center. Figures are metro-level snapshots, not valuations for a specific home.