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Salary comparison

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop: Portland vs San Francisco

Portland, OR pays about 9.0% more for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop on paper — $43,410 vs $39,810. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Portland comes out ahead by $3,600 a year in real buying power.

Portland, OR

Median salary

$43,410

25th percentile

$34,440

75th percentile

$50,490

Hourly

$20.87

Cost index

100

Real buying power

$43,410/yr

Median adjusted for local cost of living.

Full Portland salary page

San Francisco, CA

Median salary

$39,810

25th percentile

$39,060

75th percentile

$43,770

Hourly

$19.14

Cost index

100

Real buying power

$39,810/yr

Median adjusted for local cost of living.

Full San Francisco salary page

What the numbers mean in practice

The headline gap is $3,600 a year (9.0%) in favor of Portland. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.

Portland runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; San Francisco sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Portland is the better deal by $3,600 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.

If you are weighing a move from San Francisco to Portland for this role, the raise needs to beat 9.0% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.

Common questions

Where do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn more, Portland or San Francisco?

Portland pays $43,410 on median — about 9.0% more than San Francisco ($39,810). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Which city is the better deal after living costs?

Portland. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Portland gives you roughly$43,410 of real buying power versus $39,810 in the other city.

All Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salaries nationwide →