City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Bakersfield is significant: $140,970 median household versus $80,540. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
This is a genuine split. San Francisco wins on the job market and Bakersfield wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Bakersfield at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Bakersfield are 251 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $1,004 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $60,430 (43%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 148 in Bakersfield, down 35 points (19%).
The move
Bakersfield and San Francisco are 251 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,004 a month (68%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $60,430 (75%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 183 in San Francisco, up 35 points (24%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 41% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Bakersfield is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $1,004/month back in your pocket ($12,048/year). Over five years that's $60,240 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, Bakersfield is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
75% higher
San Francisco's median income is 75% higher than Bakersfield
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Bakersfield
$80,540
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 75% higher in San Francisco (about $60,430 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. Bakersfield can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
19% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 19% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% lower in Bakersfield. 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, Bakersfield is the easier city. San Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Francisco and Bakersfield are about even on typical weather.
San Francisco
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Bakersfield sits near 73°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
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 75% higher here ($140,970). Start with San Francisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Bakersfield if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than San Francisco (148 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
Rent is the clearest fork: Bakersfield at $1,472/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco ($1,004 apart). San Francisco median income is $140,970 against $80,540 in Bakersfield, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Bakersfield rent at $1,472/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 42/100 in San Francisco and 48/100 in Bakersfield.
If housing cost drives your move, Bakersfield is the stronger match ($1,472/month rent against $2,476). If an employer or family tie already points to San Francisco, treat $2,476/month rent and $140,970 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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