City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between Austin and San Francisco is significant: $93,658 median household versus $140,970. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $2,476 in San Francisco.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. San Francisco makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Austin at $1,729 average has pockets that run $1,529 and others at $2,129: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and San Francisco are 1,500 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $747 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $47,312 (51%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 183 in San Francisco, up 21 points (13%).
The move
San Francisco and Austin are 1,500 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $747 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $93,658 in Austin, down $47,312 (34%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 162 in Austin, down 21 points (11%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and San Francisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Austin rent is 30% cheaper than San Francisco
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Austin is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $747/month back in your pocket ($8,964/year). Over five years that's $44,820 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in San Francisco, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Austin is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
51% higher
San Francisco's median income is 51% higher than Austin
Austin
$93,658
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $93,658 in Austin, so typical pay runs 51% higher in San Francisco (about $47,312 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, San Francisco is the stronger labor market on paper. Austin can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
11% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 11% lower than San Francisco
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Austin. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Austin, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in San Francisco. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Austin weather is 6% more comfortable than San Francisco
Austin
Winner76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco
63°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 94/100
Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs); San Francisco averages about 63°F (69°F highs). Austin sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. San Francisco averages around 63°F. Austin scores 6% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose San Francisco if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Austin if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (76°F) beat San Francisco on this page's weather index by 6%. San Francisco may pay more or cost less, but Austin is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than San Francisco (162 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
San Francisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 51% higher here ($140,970). Start with San Francisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,729/month in Austin versus $2,476 in San Francisco. Median income reads $93,658 in Austin and $140,970 in San Francisco, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Austin rent at $1,729/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 76°F in Austin and 63°F in San Francisco.
Austin clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. San Francisco deserves a serious look only when your $140,970 income offer in San Francisco outweighs saving $747/month in Austin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and San Francisco, plus other cities in TX and CA.
