City comparison
No. Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jersey City is cheaper. Median rent is $2,007 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
Climate is the sharpest divide between San Francisco and Jersey City. San Francisco averages 65°F while Jersey City averages 53°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,476 versus $2,007.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Jersey City 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.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Jersey City at $2,007 average has pockets that run $1,807 and others at $2,407: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Jersey City are 2,562 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $2,007 a month in Jersey City, down $469 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $97,710 in Jersey City, down $43,260 (31%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 135 in Jersey City, down 48 points (26%).
The move
Jersey City and San Francisco are 2,562 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,007 a month in Jersey City to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $469 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $97,710 in Jersey City to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $43,260 (44%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Jersey City to 183 in San Francisco, up 48 points (36%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jersey City, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Jersey City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Jersey City rent is 19% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Jersey City
Winner$2,007/mo
Typical rent runs $2,007 a month in Jersey City versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Jersey City 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 $5,628, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Jersey City 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 Jersey City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
San Francisco's median income is 44% higher than Jersey City
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Jersey City
$97,710
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $97,710 in Jersey City, so typical pay runs 44% higher in San Francisco (about $43,260 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. Jersey City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
26% lower crime
Jersey City's crime index is 26% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Jersey City
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Jersey City's crime index is 135 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% lower in Jersey City. 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, Jersey City 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
52% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 52% more comfortable than Jersey City
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jersey City
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Jersey City averages about 53°F (58°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Jersey City averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco scores 52% 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 Jersey City 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 44% 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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Jersey City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $2,007 a month. Choose Jersey City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Jersey City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 26% lower than San Francisco (135 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: San Francisco at $140,970 median income versus $97,710 in Jersey City. Housing ($2,007 in Jersey City, $2,476 in San Francisco) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Jersey City vs 42/100 in San Francisco), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Safety scores read 42/100 in San Francisco and 51/100 in Jersey City.
San Francisco clears the bar on local pay in this dataset. Jersey City deserves a serious look only when keeping rent near $2,007/month beats chasing $140,970 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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