City comparison
No. Madison's crime index is 91 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 68 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
Climate is the sharpest divide between San Francisco and Madison. San Francisco averages 65°F while Madison averages 48°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,476 versus $1,413.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Madison 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. Madison at $1,413 average has pockets that run $1,213 and others at $1,813: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Madison are 1,763 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $1,063 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $78,050 in Madison, down $62,920 (45%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 91 in Madison, down 92 points (50%).
The move
Madison and San Francisco are 1,763 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,063 a month (75%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $62,920 (81%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 183 in San Francisco, up 92 points (101%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
43% cheaper
Madison rent is 43% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Madison is 43% cheaper. That's roughly $1,063/month back in your pocket ($12,756/year). Over five years that's $63,780 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, Madison is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
81% higher
San Francisco's median income is 81% higher than Madison
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 81% higher in San Francisco (about $62,920 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. Madison can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
50% lower crime
Madison's crime index is 50% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Madison
Winner91 (100 = avg)
Madison's crime index is 91 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 50% lower in Madison. 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, Madison 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
92% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 92% more comfortable than Madison
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
48°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 52/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Madison averages about 48°F (57°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Madison averages around 48°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco scores 92% 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 Madison 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 81% 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
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 43% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 50% lower than San Francisco (91 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 runs $2,476/month while Madison sits at $1,413 — roughly 43% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is San Francisco-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Madison rent at $1,413/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $78,050 in Madison.
Between San Francisco and Madison, Madison is ahead on housing cost — $1,413/month rent against $2,476. Lean San Francisco instead when your $140,970 income offer in San Francisco outweighs saving $1,063/month in Madison.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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