City comparison
Yes. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Los Angeles is cheaper. Median rent is $1,933 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between Los Angeles and San Francisco is significant: $81,939 median household versus $140,970. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,933 in Los Angeles and $2,476 in San Francisco.
Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Los Angeles at $1,933 average has pockets that run $1,733 and others at $2,333: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and San Francisco are 347 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $543 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $59,031 (72%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 183 in San Francisco, up 25 points (16%).
The move
San Francisco and Los Angeles are 347 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, down $543 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $81,939 in Los Angeles, down $59,031 (42%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 158 in Los Angeles, down 25 points (14%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and San Francisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Los Angeles rent is 22% cheaper than San Francisco
Los Angeles
Winner$1,933/mo
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Typical rent runs $1,933 a month in Los Angeles versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Los Angeles is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $543/month back in your pocket ($6,516/year). Over five years that's $32,580 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, Los Angeles is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
72% higher
San Francisco's median income is 72% higher than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$81,939
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $81,939 in Los Angeles, so typical pay runs 72% higher in San Francisco (about $59,031 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. Los Angeles can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
14% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 14% lower than San Francisco
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Los Angeles. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Los Angeles, 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
Los Angeles weather is 6% more comfortable than San Francisco
Los Angeles
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco
63°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 94/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); San Francisco averages about 63°F (69°F highs). Los Angeles 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. Los Angeles 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
Los Angeles is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,933 a month. Choose Los Angeles if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 14% lower than San Francisco (158 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 72% 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
Pay is the headline: San Francisco median income is $140,970 versus $81,939 in Los Angeles (42% higher). Rent still runs $2,476/month in San Francisco and $1,933/month in Los Angeles, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches San Francisco rates.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $81,939), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Weather averages land near 76°F in Los Angeles and 63°F in San Francisco.
If local pay drives your move, San Francisco is the stronger match ($140,970 median income against $81,939). If an employer or family tie already points to Los Angeles, treat $1,933/month rent and $81,939 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and San Francisco, plus other cities in CA.
