City comparison
No. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Sacramento is cheaper. Median rent is $1,779 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Sacramento is significant: $140,970 median household versus $87,321. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,779 in Sacramento.
This is a genuine split. San Francisco wins on the job market and Sacramento wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Sacramento at $1,779 average has pockets that run $1,579 and others at $2,179: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Sacramento are 75 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, down $697 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $87,321 in Sacramento, down $53,649 (38%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 181 in Sacramento, down 2 points (1%).
The move
Sacramento and San Francisco are 75 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $697 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $53,649 (61%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 183 in San Francisco, up 2 points (1%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Sacramento rent is 28% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Sacramento
Winner$1,779/mo
Typical rent runs $1,779 a month in Sacramento versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Sacramento is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $697/month back in your pocket ($8,364/year). Over five years that's $41,820 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, Sacramento is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
61% higher
San Francisco's median income is 61% higher than Sacramento
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Sacramento
$87,321
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $87,321 in Sacramento, so typical pay runs 61% higher in San Francisco (about $53,649 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. Sacramento can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
1% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 1% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in Sacramento. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Sacramento, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in San Francisco. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Francisco and Sacramento are about even on typical weather.
San Francisco
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Sacramento sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Sacramento is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 28% cheaper here at about $1,779 a month. Choose Sacramento if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 1% lower than San Francisco (181 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
Sacramento is cheaper on rent ($1,779/month vs $2,476), but San Francisco's $140,970 median income beats Sacramento's $87,321 by 38%. Remote workers paid on San Francisco scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $87,321), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Safety scores read 42/100 in San Francisco and 42/100 in Sacramento.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in San Francisco; Sacramento only makes sense when $1,779/month housing savings outweigh $140,970 median pay in your field.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Sacramento when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Sacramento, plus other cities in CA.
