City comparison
No. Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 102 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Omaha is cheaper. Median rent is $1,187 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Omaha is significant: $140,970 median household versus $73,201. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,187 in Omaha.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Omaha 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. Omaha at $1,187 average has pockets that run $987 and others at $1,587: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Omaha are 1,426 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,187 a month in Omaha, down $1,289 a month (52%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $73,201 in Omaha, down $67,769 (48%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 141 in Omaha, down 42 points (23%).
The move
Omaha and San Francisco are 1,426 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,187 a month in Omaha to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,289 a month (109%).
Median household income goes from $73,201 in Omaha to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $67,769 (93%).
The crime index goes from 141 in Omaha to 183 in San Francisco, up 42 points (30%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Omaha, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
52% cheaper
Omaha rent is 52% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Omaha
Winner$1,187/mo
Typical rent runs $1,187 a month in Omaha versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Omaha is 52% cheaper. That's roughly $1,289/month back in your pocket ($15,468/year). Over five years that's $77,340 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, Omaha is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Omaha? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
93% higher
San Francisco's median income is 93% higher than Omaha
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Omaha
$73,201
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $73,201 in Omaha, so typical pay runs 93% higher in San Francisco (about $67,769 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. Omaha can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
23% lower crime
Omaha's crime index is 23% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Omaha
Winner141 (100 = avg)
Omaha's crime index is 141 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% lower in Omaha. 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, Omaha 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
20% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 20% more comfortable than Omaha
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Omaha
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Omaha averages about 59°F (68°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Omaha averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco scores 20% 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 Omaha 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 93% 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
Omaha is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 52% cheaper here at about $1,187 a month. Choose Omaha if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Omaha is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 23% lower than San Francisco (141 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 Omaha sits at $1,187 — roughly 52% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is San Francisco-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Omaha rent at $1,187/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 50/100 in Omaha.
Omaha is the default on housing cost at $1,187/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco; San Francisco stays in play when $140,970 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $1,289 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Omaha, plus other cities in CA and NE.
