City comparison
No. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boston is cheaper. Median rent is $2,147 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Boston is significant: $140,970 median household versus $97,344. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $2,147 in Boston.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Boston 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Boston in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
San Francisco and Boston are 2,693 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $2,147 a month in Boston, down $329 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $97,344 in Boston, down $43,626 (31%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 147 in Boston, down 36 points (20%).
The move
Boston and San Francisco are 2,693 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $329 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $43,626 (45%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 183 in San Francisco, up 36 points (24%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Boston, MA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Boston? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Boston rent is 13% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Boston
Winner$2,147/mo
Typical rent runs $2,147 a month in Boston versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Boston 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 $3,948, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Boston still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Francisco.
Planning to buy in Boston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
45% higher
San Francisco's median income is 45% higher than Boston
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Boston
$97,344
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $97,344 in Boston, so typical pay runs 45% higher in San Francisco (about $43,626 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. Boston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
20% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 20% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Boston. 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, Boston 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
31% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 31% more comfortable than Boston
San Francisco
Winner63°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 94/100
Boston
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
San Francisco averages about 63°F (69°F highs); Boston averages about 55°F (61°F highs). San Francisco averages around 63°F. Boston averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco scores 31% 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 Boston 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 45% higher ($140,970), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°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
Boston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $2,147 a month. Choose Boston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than San Francisco (147 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
San Francisco posts $140,970 median household income against $97,344 in Boston. That 31% pay gap is the story when rents are $2,147 in Boston and $2,476 in San Francisco.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $97,344), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Weather averages land near 63°F in San Francisco and 55°F in Boston.
San Francisco leads on local pay ($140,970 median income vs $97,344), even though rent runs $2,476 versus $2,147 — skip San Francisco only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Boston when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Boston, plus other cities in CA and MA.
