City comparison
Yes. San Diego's crime index is 106 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Durham is cheaper. Median rent is $1,508 a month versus $2,313 in San Diego.
Safety is where San Diego and Durham split most clearly. San Diego scores 87 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,313 in San Diego and $1,508 in Durham.
San Diego is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Durham makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone San Diego is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Durham at $1,508 average has pockets that run $1,308 and others at $1,908: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Diego and Durham are 2,180 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,313 a month in San Diego to $1,508 a month in Durham, down $805 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $108,077 in San Diego to $81,619 in Durham, down $26,458 (24%).
The crime index goes from 106 in San Diego to 193 in Durham, up 87 points (82%).
The move
Durham and San Diego are 2,180 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $2,313 a month in San Diego, up $805 a month (53%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $108,077 in San Diego, up $26,458 (32%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 106 in San Diego, down 87 points (45%).
San Diego, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Diego and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Durham rent is 35% cheaper than San Diego
San Diego
$2,313/mo
Durham
Winner$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,508 a month in Durham versus $2,313 in San Diego, so Durham is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $805/month back in your pocket ($9,660/year). Over five years that's $48,300 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 Diego, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Durham is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in San Diego? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
San Diego's median income is 32% higher than Durham
San Diego
Winner$108,077
Durham
$81,619
Median household income is $108,077 in San Diego versus $81,619 in Durham, so typical pay runs 32% higher in San Diego (about $26,458 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 Diego is the stronger labor market on paper. Durham can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
45% lower crime
San Diego's crime index is 45% lower than Durham
San Diego
Winner106 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
San Diego's crime index is 106 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in San Diego. 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 Diego is the easier city. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
San Diego weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
San Diego
Winner74°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
San Diego averages about 74°F (78°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). San Diego sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Diego scores 20% 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 Durham if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 32% higher ($108,077), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 74°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
San Diego is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 45% lower than Durham (106 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Durham
Durham is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,508 a month. Choose Durham if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,508/month in Durham versus $2,313 in San Diego. Median income reads $81,619 in Durham and $108,077 in San Diego, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Durham rent at $1,508/month is still below San Diego's $2,313, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $108,077 in San Diego versus $81,619 in Durham.
Pick Durham when shaving $805 off rent at $1,508/month is the priority. Otherwise, San Diego's case rests on $2,313/month rent with $108,077 local income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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