City comparison
Yes. San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Long Beach is cheaper. Median rent is $1,871 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Long Beach is significant: $140,970 median household versus $87,430. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,871 in Long Beach.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Long Beach 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. Long Beach at $1,871 average has pockets that run $1,671 and others at $2,271: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Long Beach are 364 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, down $605 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $87,430 in Long Beach, down $53,540 (38%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 187 in Long Beach, up 4 points (2%).
The move
Long Beach and San Francisco are 364 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $605 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $53,540 (61%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 183 in San Francisco, down 4 points (2%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Long Beach rent is 24% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Long Beach
Winner$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,871 a month in Long Beach versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Long Beach is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $605/month back in your pocket ($7,260/year). Over five years that's $36,300 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, Long Beach is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
61% higher
San Francisco's median income is 61% higher than Long Beach
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Long Beach
$87,430
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $87,430 in Long Beach, so typical pay runs 61% higher in San Francisco (about $53,540 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. Long Beach can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
2% lower crime
San Francisco's crime index is 2% lower than Long Beach
San Francisco
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% lower in San Francisco. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in San Francisco, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Long Beach. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Long Beach weather is 9% more comfortable than San Francisco
San Francisco
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Long Beach
Winner71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs). San Francisco averages around 62°F. Long Beach sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach scores 9% 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 61% higher here ($140,970). Start with San Francisco if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
San Francisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 2% lower than Long Beach (183 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.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Long Beach is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,871 a month. Choose Long Beach if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Long Beach if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat San Francisco on this page's weather index by 9%. San Francisco may pay more or cost less, but Long Beach is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: San Francisco at $140,970 median income versus $87,430 in Long Beach. Housing ($1,871 in Long Beach, $2,476 in San Francisco) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $87,430), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Weather averages land near 62°F in San Francisco and 71°F in Long Beach.
Pick San Francisco when your field pays toward $140,970 median income. Otherwise, Long Beach's case rests on a $1,871 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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