Central air conditioner replacement cost in San Francisco, CA
Installed, 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)
A typical central AC (3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil)) costs about $4,950 installed in the San Francisco area, 6% above the national figure, because HVAC technicians here earn a median $38 an hour against $29 nationally.
Prices by size in San Francisco
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $3,300 | $3,700 | $4,900 | $3,500 |
| 3 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $4,300 | $4,950 | $6,650 | $4,650 |
| 4 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $5,750 | $6,400 | $8,550 | $6,000 |
| 5 ton (outdoor unit + matching coil) | $7,100 | $8,000 | $10,100 | $7,400 |
Local labor: what HVAC technicians earn here
| Hourly wage | San Francisco metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $30 | $23 |
| Median | $38 | $29 |
| 75th percentile | $49 | $37 |
The San Francisco market
San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection issues plumbing and mechanical permits. Its 2026 fee table lists Category 1M, a mechanical gas appliance (furnace, hydronic heat or heat pump) in a single residential unit, at $290 per permit with a maximum of two inspections. No city page reviewed names water heaters; a permit is likely, and if a heater is classed as a single plumbing fixture (Category 1P) the fee is also $290, but confirm with DBI. Online applicants must be licensed contractors registered with the city, and only owner-installers of stand-alone single-family homes may apply themselves. Unlisted work is billed hourly. Mild weather keeps cooling loads low in the city itself, while state law still requires seismic strapping on every replacement water heater. Oakland, Fremont and the East Bay suburbs run separate building departments.
Fog-cooled neighborhoods rarely need air conditioning, and many city homes have none. Statewide, EIA found 54% of California homes have central air, a share that rises sharply in the warmer inland parts of the metro. In the city, a heat pump often makes more sense than a separate AC unit, since it also heats. For homes without ducts, ask about ductless heads and where the outdoor unit would sit on a narrow lot.
Permits in San Francisco
| Permit for this job | Yes (mechanical permit category for furnace, hydronic heat, heat pump in a single residential unit) (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | $290 per permit (Category 1M furnace/hydronic/heat pump, single residential unit; max two inspections). Category 1P (single plumbing fixture) also $290 if a water heater is classed there. Unlisted work at $519/hour. |
| Who can pull it | SF-registered licensed contractor, or owner-installer of a stand-alone single-family dwelling |
| Inspection | Yes (fee covers up to two inspections; concealed piping inspected before cover) |
Rebates in California
HEAR: paused. HOMES: announced, not open yet. Source: California Energy Commission, checked October 13, 2026.
- TECH Clean California: Statewide heat pump HVAC and heat pump water heater incentives via contractors; also administers HEEHRA (fully reserved)
- Golden State Rebates: Instant rebates on efficient appliances at retailers
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in San Francisco
- Gas tank water heater
- Gas tankless water heater
- Gas furnace
- Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler)
Central air conditioner cost in other metros
- Los Angeles, CA
- Riverside, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Fresno, CA
- New York, NY
- Chicago, IL
Sources
- SF.gov: Apply for a plumbing and mechanical permit
- San Francisco DBI Table 1A-C: plumbing and mechanical fees (2026)
- TECH Clean California
- California Energy Commission: IRA residential energy rebate programs
- California Health and Safety Code section 19211 (water heater bracing), via the Seismic Safety Commission
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- BLS OEWS May 2025, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (49-9021 HVAC mechanics and installers)
- DOE Residential CAC & Heat Pumps Direct Final Rule TSD (Dec 2016), Table 8.2.30, split AC coil-only (2015$; 4-ton interpolated)