City comparison
Boise is safer than San Francisco. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Boise is significant: $140,970 median household versus $83,904. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,446 in Boise.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Boise costs less and San Francisco pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Boise at $1,446 average has pockets that run $1,246 and others at $1,846: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Boise are 518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $1,030 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $83,904 in Boise, down $57,066 (40%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 73 in Boise, down 110 points (60%).
The move
Boise and San Francisco are 518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,030 a month (71%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $57,066 (68%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 183 in San Francisco, up 110 points (151%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Boise, ID
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
Boise rent is 42% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Boise is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $1,030/month back in your pocket ($12,360/year). Over five years that's $61,800 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, Boise is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
68% higher
San Francisco's median income is 68% higher than Boise
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Boise
$83,904
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $83,904 in Boise, so typical pay runs 68% higher in San Francisco (about $57,066 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. Boise can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
60% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 60% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% lower in Boise. 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, Boise 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
25% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 25% more comfortable than Boise
San Francisco
Winner66°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
San Francisco averages about 66°F (74°F highs); Boise averages about 58°F (66°F highs). San Francisco sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco scores 25% 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 Boise 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 68% higher ($140,970), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 42% cheaper here at about $1,446 a month. Choose Boise if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Boise is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 60% lower than San Francisco (73 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Boise leads on safety (70/100 vs 42/100 in San Francisco). Typical rent is $1,446 in Boise and $2,476 in San Francisco; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $83,904), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Median income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $83,904 in Boise.
Boise is ahead on safety (70/100 vs 42/100); San Francisco is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $2,476/month rent plus $140,970 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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