City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Raleigh is significant: $140,970 median household versus $85,395. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Raleigh 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. Raleigh at $1,572 average has pockets that run $1,372 and others at $1,972: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Raleigh are 2,405 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $904 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $55,575 (39%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 142 in Raleigh, down 41 points (22%).
The move
Raleigh and San Francisco are 2,405 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $904 a month (58%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $55,575 (65%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 183 in San Francisco, up 41 points (29%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 37% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Raleigh is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $904/month back in your pocket ($10,848/year). Over five years that's $54,240 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, Raleigh is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
65% higher
San Francisco's median income is 65% higher than Raleigh
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Raleigh
$85,395
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 65% higher in San Francisco (about $55,575 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. Raleigh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
22% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 22% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 22% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
16% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh averages around 60°F. San Francisco scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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 65% 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
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 22% lower than San Francisco (142 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 Raleigh sits at $1,572 — roughly 37% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is San Francisco-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Raleigh rent at $1,572/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 49/100 in Raleigh.
Between San Francisco and Raleigh, Raleigh is ahead on housing cost — $1,572/month rent against $2,476. Lean San Francisco instead when your $140,970 income offer in San Francisco outweighs saving $904/month in Raleigh.
Common questions
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Next steps
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