CostGuide

Legal & Financial, California

Criminal Defense Attorney cost in San Francisco, CA

A typical Criminal Defense Attorney figure in San Francisco is about $7,000 per case, about 40% above the national figure of $5,000.

Typical cost

Typical in San Francisco

$7,000

per case

Fair price range: $2,100 to $28,000

On the low end
$2,100
On the high end
$28,000

Estimated from national price data, adjusted for the cost of living in San Francisco. Insurance, coverage, and the details of your situation can change the real number a lot. Not a quote.

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An estimate for planning, not a quote. A local pro prices your actual job.

How prices have moved

Up 3.1%past year

Up 23.9%over five years

How prices for services other than rent have moved nationally, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (Services less rent of shelter, CUUR0000SASL2RS), through August 2026. It tracks price change, not the dollar prices on this page.

What moves the price

  1. Charge severity
  2. Trial vs plea
  3. Public vs private
  4. Experience
  5. Investigation

Ways to pay less

  1. Ask about payment plans
  2. Get a written scope
  3. Consider a public defender when appropriate
  4. Do not discuss the case publicly
  5. Request an early case assessment

Criminal Defense Attorney in similar cities

PlaceTypicalRange
San Francisco, CA$7,000
$2,100 to $28,000
National typical$5,000
$1,500 to $20,000
San Jose, CA$6,900
$2,070 to $27,600
Sunnyvale, CA$6,800
$2,040 to $27,200
Santa Barbara, CA$6,700
$2,010 to $26,800
New York, NY$7,000
$2,100 to $28,000
Honolulu, HI$7,100
$2,130 to $28,400

Other Legal & Financial costs in San Francisco

Criminal Defense Attorney in every cityEverything in San FranciscoAll Legal & Financial services

Questions people ask

Criminal Defense Attorney in San Francisco: what does it cost?

In San Francisco, CA, Criminal Defense Attorney typically costs about $7,000 per case, with most prices between $2,100 and $28,000.

Why is San Francisco higher than the national price?

Prices in San Francisco run about 40% above the national average. This estimate scales the national figure by that difference in local cost of living.

Is this a quote?

No. It is an estimate built from national price data and local cost of living. A local pro will price your actual job.