City comparison
Yes. San Diego's crime index is 106 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $2,313 in San Diego.
The cost gap between San Diego and Raleigh is the real story here. Raleigh comes in 32% cheaper on typical rent ($2,313 vs $1,572), which over a year adds up to $8,892. Median household income runs $108,077 in San Diego and $85,395 in Raleigh.
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. Raleigh 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. Raleigh at $1,572 average has pockets that run $1,372 and others at $1,972: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Diego and Raleigh are 2,196 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,313 a month in San Diego to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $741 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $108,077 in San Diego to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $22,682 (21%).
The crime index goes from 106 in San Diego to 142 in Raleigh, up 36 points (34%).
The move
Raleigh and San Diego are 2,196 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $2,313 a month in San Diego, up $741 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $108,077 in San Diego, up $22,682 (27%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 106 in San Diego, down 36 points (25%).
San Diego, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Diego and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 32% cheaper than San Diego
San Diego
$2,313/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $2,313 in San Diego, so Raleigh is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $741/month back in your pocket ($8,892/year). Over five years that's $44,460 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, Raleigh 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
27% higher
San Diego's median income is 27% higher than Raleigh
San Diego
Winner$108,077
Raleigh
$85,395
Median household income is $108,077 in San Diego versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 27% higher in San Diego (about $22,682 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. Raleigh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
25% lower crime
San Diego's crime index is 25% lower than Raleigh
San Diego
Winner106 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
San Diego's crime index is 106 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% 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. Raleigh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
San Diego weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
San Diego
Winner74°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
San Diego averages about 74°F (78°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). San Diego sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh averages around 60°F. San Diego scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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 27% 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 25% lower than Raleigh (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 Raleigh
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Raleigh undercuts San Diego by $741/month ($1,572 vs $2,313). I would not pick San Diego on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Raleigh rent at $1,572/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 $85,395 in Raleigh.
Raleigh is the default on housing cost at $1,572/month versus $2,313 in San Diego; San Diego stays in play when $108,077 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $741 lease gap.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Diego and Raleigh, plus other cities in CA and NC.
