City comparison
No. San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between Houston and San Francisco is significant: $64,813 median household versus $140,970. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,361 in Houston and $2,476 in San Francisco.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Houston costs less and San Francisco pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Houston at $1,361 average has pockets that run $1,161 and others at $1,761: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Houston and San Francisco are 1,643 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,115 a month (82%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $76,157 (118%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 183 in San Francisco, down 87 points (32%).
The move
San Francisco and Houston are 1,643 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $1,115 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $64,813 in Houston, down $76,157 (54%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 270 in Houston, up 87 points (48%).
Houston, 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 Houston and San Francisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
45% cheaper
Houston rent is 45% cheaper than San Francisco
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Houston is 45% cheaper. That's roughly $1,115/month back in your pocket ($13,380/year). Over five years that's $66,900 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, Houston is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Houston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
118% higher
San Francisco's median income is 118% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 118% higher in San Francisco (about $76,157 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. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
32% lower crime
San Francisco's crime index is 32% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
San Francisco
Winner183 (100 = avg)
San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in San Francisco. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, San Francisco is the easier city. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Houston weather is 6% more comfortable than San Francisco
Houston
Winner77°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco
63°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 94/100
Houston averages about 77°F (85°F highs); San Francisco averages about 63°F (69°F highs). Houston sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. San Francisco averages around 63°F. Houston 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
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 45% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Houston if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat San Francisco on this page's weather index by 6%. San Francisco may pay more or cost less, but Houston is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 118% higher here ($140,970). Start with San Francisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
San Francisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Houston (183 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.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Houston at $1,361/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco ($1,115 apart). San Francisco median income is $140,970 against $64,813 in Houston, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Houston and 42/100 in San Francisco.
Pick Houston when shaving $1,115 off rent at $1,361/month is the priority. Otherwise, San Francisco's case rests on $2,476/month rent with $140,970 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Houston when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and San Francisco, plus other cities in TX and CA.
