City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 106 in San Diego, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 114, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Frisco is cheaper. Median rent is $2,014 a month versus $2,313 in San Diego.
Safety is where San Diego and Frisco split most clearly. Frisco scores 63 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 $2,014 in Frisco.
Frisco is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. San Diego makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Frisco is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Frisco has rougher pockets and San Diego has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Diego and Frisco are 1,178 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,313 a month in San Diego to $2,014 a month in Frisco, down $299 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $108,077 in San Diego to $150,212 in Frisco, up $42,135 (39%).
The crime index goes from 106 in San Diego to 43 in Frisco, down 63 points (59%).
The move
Frisco and San Diego are 1,178 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $2,313 a month in San Diego, up $299 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $108,077 in San Diego, down $42,135 (28%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 106 in San Diego, up 63 points (147%).
San Diego, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Frisco, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Diego and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Frisco rent is 13% cheaper than San Diego
San Diego
$2,313/mo
Frisco
Winner$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $2,014 a month in Frisco versus $2,313 in San Diego, so Frisco is 13% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,588, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Frisco still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Diego.
Planning to buy in Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
39% higher
Frisco's median income is 39% higher than San Diego
San Diego
$108,077
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $108,077 in San Diego, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Frisco (about $42,135 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, Frisco is the stronger labor market on paper. San Diego can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 59% lower than San Diego
San Diego
106 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 106 in San Diego (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Frisco. 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, Frisco is the easier city. San Diego can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Diego and Frisco are about even on typical weather.
San Diego
74°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Diego averages about 74°F (78°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). San Diego sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Frisco sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to San Diego
On these five categories Frisco takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose San Diego because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose San Diego only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Frisco is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $2,014 a month. Choose Frisco if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Frisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 39% higher here ($150,212). Start with Frisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Frisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than San Diego (43 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Frisco: Frisco scores 86/100 versus 58/100 in San Diego, with typical rent at $2,014 versus $2,313. I would vet the exact ZIP in San Diego before trading 28 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (86/100 in Frisco vs 58/100 in San Diego), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $2,014 in Frisco and $2,313 in San Diego.
Frisco clears the bar on safety in this dataset. San Diego deserves a serious look only when you already know the San Diego block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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