City comparison
No. Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 31 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Frisco is cheaper. Median rent is $2,014 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
Safety is where San Francisco and Frisco split most clearly. Frisco scores 140 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,476 in San Francisco and $2,014 in Frisco.
Frisco is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety 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 Frisco is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Frisco at $2,014 average has pockets that run $1,814 and others at $2,414: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Frisco are 1,470 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $2,014 a month in Frisco, down $462 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $150,212 in Frisco, up $9,242 (7%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 43 in Frisco, down 140 points (77%).
The move
Frisco and San Francisco are 1,470 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,014 a month in Frisco to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $462 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $150,212 in Frisco to $140,970 in San Francisco, down $9,242 (6%).
The crime index goes from 43 in Frisco to 183 in San Francisco, up 140 points (326%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Frisco, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Frisco rent is 19% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Frisco
Winner$2,014/mo
Typical rent runs $2,014 a month in Frisco versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Frisco is 19% 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 $5,544, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Frisco 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 Frisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Frisco's median income is 7% higher than San Francisco
San Francisco
$140,970
Frisco
Winner$150,212
Median household income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $140,970 in San Francisco, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Frisco (about $9,242 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
77% lower crime
Frisco's crime index is 77% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Frisco
Winner43 (100 = avg)
Frisco's crime index is 43 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% lower in Frisco. 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, Frisco 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 Frisco are about even on typical weather.
San Francisco
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Frisco
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Frisco averages about 68°F (76°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Frisco sits near 68°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to San Francisco
On these five categories Frisco takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose San Francisco because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose San Francisco only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Frisco is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $2,014 a month. Choose Frisco if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Frisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($150,212). Start with Frisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Frisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 77% lower than San Francisco (43 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 carries the heavier crime signal on this page (42/100 safety vs 86/100 in Frisco). That 44-point spread matters more than the $462 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (86/100 in Frisco vs 42/100 in San Francisco), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $150,212 in Frisco versus $140,970 in San Francisco.
Frisco clears the bar on safety in this dataset. San Francisco deserves a serious look only when you already know the San Francisco block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Frisco, plus other cities in CA and TX.
