City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Lincoln is significant: $140,970 median household versus $71,867. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,086 in Lincoln.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Lincoln 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. Lincoln at $1,086 average has pockets that run $886 and others at $1,486: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Lincoln are 1,388 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $1,390 a month (56%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $71,867 in Lincoln, down $69,103 (49%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 124 in Lincoln, down 59 points (32%).
The move
Lincoln and San Francisco are 1,388 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,390 a month (128%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $69,103 (96%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 183 in San Francisco, up 59 points (48%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lincoln, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
56% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 56% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Lincoln is 56% cheaper. That's roughly $1,390/month back in your pocket ($16,680/year). Over five years that's $83,400 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, Lincoln is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
96% higher
San Francisco's median income is 96% higher than Lincoln
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Lincoln
$71,867
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $71,867 in Lincoln, so typical pay runs 96% higher in San Francisco (about $69,103 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. Lincoln can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
32% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 32% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in Lincoln. 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, Lincoln 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
39% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 96% 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
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 56% cheaper here at about $1,086 a month. Choose Lincoln if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Lincoln is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than San Francisco (124 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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,086/month in Lincoln versus $2,476 in San Francisco. Median income reads $71,867 in Lincoln and $140,970 in San Francisco, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Lincoln rent at $1,086/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 53/100 in Lincoln.
If housing cost drives your move, Lincoln is the stronger match ($1,086/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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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Lincoln, plus other cities in CA and NE.
