City comparison
Yes. San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Colorado Springs is cheaper. Median rent is $1,648 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Colorado Springs is significant: $140,970 median household versus $84,818. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
San Francisco is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Colorado Springs makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone San Francisco is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Colorado Springs at $1,648 average has pockets that run $1,448 and others at $2,048: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Colorado Springs are 955 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, down $828 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, down $56,152 (40%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 17 points (9%).
The move
Colorado Springs and San Francisco are 955 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $828 a month (50%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $56,152 (66%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 183 in San Francisco, down 17 points (9%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
33% cheaper
Colorado Springs rent is 33% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Colorado Springs
Winner$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Colorado Springs is 33% cheaper. That's roughly $828/month back in your pocket ($9,936/year). Over five years that's $49,680 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, Colorado Springs is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in San Francisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
66% higher
San Francisco's median income is 66% higher than Colorado Springs
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Colorado Springs
$84,818
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so typical pay runs 66% higher in San Francisco (about $56,152 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. Colorado Springs can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
9% lower crime
San Francisco's crime index is 9% lower than Colorado Springs
San Francisco
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in San Francisco. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in San Francisco, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Colorado Springs. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 39% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco 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 Colorado Springs 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 66% higher ($140,970), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
San Francisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than Colorado Springs (183 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 Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 33% cheaper here at about $1,648 a month. Choose Colorado Springs 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: Colorado Springs at $1,648/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco ($828 apart). San Francisco median income is $140,970 against $84,818 in Colorado Springs, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Colorado Springs rent at $1,648/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 65°F in San Francisco and 55°F in Colorado Springs.
If housing cost drives your move, Colorado Springs is the stronger match ($1,648/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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Nearby research
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