January 7, 2026
CPI vs. C-Pay-I?
The $14 Burrito: Why San Francisco Inflation Feels Higher Than 2.5%
Locals say $20 sandwiches and PG&E hikes make “cooling inflation” feel like a joke
TLDR: SF’s official inflation is 2.5%, but locals point to $14 burritos, doubled PG&E bills, and pricier rides as proof daily costs are still rising. Commenters clash over causes—bad stats, wage laws, and a wobbly AI bubble—fueling a bigger debate about why the cost of living feels broken.
The Fed says prices are calming, with San Francisco’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) up just 2.5% year-over-year per the BLS. But the comments are screaming: tell that to a $14 burrito. Users dug up Yelp menu photos like forensic detectives and found Taqueria Cancun’s burrito jumped from $5.50 in 2014 to $13.95 in 2025, while PG&E bills have doubled, heating rose 14% in a year, and Uber rides cost nearly triple—plus the BLS doesn’t even publish SF electricity data anymore. The city’s “Menu Index” beatdown is the new meme: the burrito has become the mascot of lived inflation. The biggest mood? Distrust. One commenter flat-out says government numbers feel fake, and another drops the viral eye-roll: “affordability was a hoax.” Cue a mini flame war: some blame rising minimum wage for food price spikes, others shout back about utility monopolies, tech money, and expired healthcare subsidies squeezing everyone. Tech watchers add extra spice, warning SF is over-exposed to the OpenAI bubble and still not back to pre-pandemic spending. It’s drama with guac: official charts say chill, but your receipt says chaos. And the community’s verdict is loud—the math doesn’t match the mouthfeel.
Key Points
- •BLS reports San Francisco CPI up 2.5% year-over-year, indicating cooling inflation.
- •Recurring expenses in SF—utilities, dining, rideshare—are rising faster than CPI; PG&E bills doubled over a decade, heating up 14% last year.
- •The BLS stopped publishing San Francisco electricity price data, limiting official visibility.
- •Yelp menu photos were used to build a ‘Menu Index,’ showing local restaurant prices outpacing the CPI’s Food Away From Home component.
- •At Taqueria Cancun, a burrito rose from $5.50 (2014) to $13.95 (2025), a 153% increase (~9% annually).