City comparison
No. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Honolulu is cheaper. Median rent is $1,823 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Honolulu is significant: $140,970 median household versus $86,504. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,823 in Honolulu.
This is a genuine split. San Francisco wins on the job market and Honolulu wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Honolulu at $1,823 average has pockets that run $1,623 and others at $2,223: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Honolulu are 2,395 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, down $653 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $86,504 in Honolulu, down $54,466 (39%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 80 in Honolulu, down 103 points (56%).
The move
Honolulu and San Francisco are 2,395 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $653 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $54,466 (63%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 183 in San Francisco, up 103 points (129%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Honolulu, HI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
Honolulu rent is 26% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Honolulu
Winner$1,823/mo
Typical rent runs $1,823 a month in Honolulu versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Honolulu is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $653/month back in your pocket ($7,836/year). Over five years that's $39,180 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, Honolulu is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
63% higher
San Francisco's median income is 63% higher than Honolulu
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Honolulu
$86,504
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $86,504 in Honolulu, so typical pay runs 63% higher in San Francisco (about $54,466 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. Honolulu can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
56% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 56% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 56% lower in Honolulu. 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, Honolulu 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 Honolulu are about even on typical weather.
San Francisco
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Honolulu
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Honolulu sits near 77°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
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 63% 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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Honolulu is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,823 a month. Choose Honolulu if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Honolulu is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 56% lower than San Francisco (80 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
Safety is the widest gap: Honolulu scores 67/100 versus 42/100 in San Francisco. Rent is $1,823/month in Honolulu and $2,476/month in San Francisco, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Honolulu rent at $1,823/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,823 in Honolulu and $2,476 in San Francisco.
Between San Francisco and Honolulu, Honolulu is ahead on safety — 67/100 safety versus 42/100. Lean San Francisco instead 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 Honolulu, plus other cities in CA and HI.
