City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and El Paso is significant: $140,970 median household versus $59,745. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,073 in El Paso.
El Paso is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. San Francisco makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone El Paso is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and El Paso are 993 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $1,403 a month (57%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $59,745 in El Paso, down $81,225 (58%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 87 in El Paso, down 96 points (52%).
The move
El Paso and San Francisco are 993 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,403 a month (131%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $81,225 (136%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 183 in San Francisco, up 96 points (110%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
57% cheaper
El Paso rent is 57% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so El Paso is 57% cheaper. That's roughly $1,403/month back in your pocket ($16,836/year). Over five years that's $84,180 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, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
136% higher
San Francisco's median income is 136% higher than El Paso
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 136% higher in San Francisco (about $81,225 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
52% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 52% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso 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
6% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 6% more comfortable than San Francisco
San Francisco
63°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 94/100
El Paso
Winner72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 63°F (69°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). San Francisco averages around 63°F. El Paso sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. El Paso scores 6% 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 San Francisco 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 and professional growth
San Francisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 136% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 57% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (72°F) beat San Francisco on this page's weather index by 6%. San Francisco may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 52% lower than San Francisco (87 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
On rent alone, El Paso undercuts San Francisco by $1,403/month ($1,073 vs $2,476). I would not pick San Francisco on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
El Paso rent at $1,073/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 64/100 in El Paso.
El Paso is the default on housing cost at $1,073/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco; San Francisco stays in play when $140,970 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $1,403 lease gap.
Common questions
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