City comparison
Yes. San Diego's crime index is 106 versus 124 in Lincoln, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 114, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $2,313 in San Diego.
The cost gap between San Diego and Lincoln is the real story here. Lincoln comes in 53% cheaper on typical rent ($2,313 vs $1,086), which over a year adds up to $14,724. Median household income runs $108,077 in San Diego and $71,867 in Lincoln.
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. Lincoln 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. Lincoln at $1,086 average has pockets that run $886 and others at $1,486: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Diego and Lincoln are 1,260 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,313 a month in San Diego to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $1,227 a month (53%).
Median household income goes from $108,077 in San Diego to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $36,210 (34%).
The crime index goes from 106 in San Diego to 124 in Lincoln, up 18 points (17%).
The move
Lincoln and San Diego are 1,260 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $2,313 a month in San Diego, up $1,227 a month (113%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $108,077 in San Diego, up $36,210 (50%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 106 in San Diego, down 18 points (15%).
San Diego, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lincoln, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Diego and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
53% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 53% cheaper than San Diego
San Diego
$2,313/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $2,313 in San Diego, so Lincoln is 53% cheaper. That's roughly $1,227/month back in your pocket ($14,724/year). Over five years that's $73,620 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, Lincoln 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
50% higher
San Diego's median income is 50% higher than Lincoln
San Diego
Winner$108,077
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $108,077 in San Diego versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 50% higher in San Diego (about $36,210 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. Lincoln can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
15% lower crime
San Diego's crime index is 15% lower than Lincoln
San Diego
Winner106 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
124 (100 = avg)
San Diego's crime index is 106 versus 124 in Lincoln (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in San Diego. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in San Diego, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Lincoln. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
San Diego weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
San Diego
Winner74°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
San Diego averages about 74°F (78°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). San Diego sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Diego scores 39% 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 Lincoln 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 50% 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 15% lower than Lincoln (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 Lincoln
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 53% cheaper here at about $1,086 a month. Choose Lincoln if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Lincoln at $1,086/month versus $2,313 in San Diego ($1,227 apart). San Diego median income is $108,077 against $71,867 in Lincoln, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Lincoln rent at $1,086/month is still below San Diego's $2,313, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 74°F in San Diego and 55°F in Lincoln.
If housing cost drives your move, Lincoln is the stronger match ($1,086/month rent against $2,313). If an employer or family tie already points to San Diego, treat $2,313/month rent and $108,077 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 San Diego and Lincoln, plus other cities in CA and NE.
