City comparison
Yes. San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Milwaukee is significant: $140,970 median household versus $54,234. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,059 in Milwaukee.
San Francisco is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Milwaukee makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone San Francisco is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Milwaukee at $1,059 average has pockets that run $859 and others at $1,459: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Milwaukee are 1,838 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $1,417 a month (57%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $86,736 (62%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 266 in Milwaukee, up 83 points (45%).
The move
Milwaukee and San Francisco are 1,838 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,417 a month (134%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $86,736 (160%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 183 in San Francisco, down 83 points (31%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
57% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 57% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Milwaukee is 57% cheaper. That's roughly $1,417/month back in your pocket ($17,004/year). Over five years that's $85,020 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, Milwaukee is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in San Francisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
160% higher
San Francisco's median income is 160% higher than Milwaukee
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Milwaukee
$54,234
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 160% higher in San Francisco (about $86,736 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. Milwaukee can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
31% lower crime
San Francisco's crime index is 31% lower than Milwaukee
San Francisco
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in San Francisco. 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, San Francisco is the easier city. Milwaukee can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
51% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 51% more comfortable than Milwaukee
San Francisco
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Milwaukee
51°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 61/100
San Francisco averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Milwaukee averages about 51°F (57°F highs). San Francisco averages around 62°F. Milwaukee averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco scores 51% 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 Milwaukee 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 160% higher ($140,970), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 31% lower than Milwaukee (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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 57% cheaper here at about $1,059 a month. Choose Milwaukee if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,059/month in Milwaukee versus $2,476 in San Francisco. Median income reads $54,234 in Milwaukee and $140,970 in San Francisco, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Milwaukee rent at $1,059/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 30/100 in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. San Francisco deserves a serious look only when your $140,970 income offer in San Francisco outweighs saving $1,417/month in Milwaukee.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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