City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Santa Ana is cheaper. Median rent is $2,082 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Santa Ana is significant: $140,970 median household versus $93,999. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
This is a genuine split. San Francisco wins on the job market and Santa Ana 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. Santa Ana at $2,082 average has pockets that run $1,882 and others at $2,482: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Santa Ana are 378 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, down $394 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $93,999 in Santa Ana, down $46,971 (33%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 107 in Santa Ana, down 76 points (42%).
The move
Santa Ana and San Francisco are 378 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $394 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $46,971 (50%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 183 in San Francisco, up 76 points (71%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Santa Ana, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Santa Ana rent is 16% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Santa Ana
Winner$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $2,082 a month in Santa Ana versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Santa Ana is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,728, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Santa Ana still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Francisco.
Planning to buy in Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
50% higher
San Francisco's median income is 50% higher than Santa Ana
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Santa Ana
$93,999
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $93,999 in Santa Ana, so typical pay runs 50% higher in San Francisco (about $46,971 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. Santa Ana can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
42% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 42% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% lower in Santa Ana. 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, Santa Ana 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
Neck and neck
San Francisco and Santa Ana are about even on typical weather.
San Francisco
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Santa Ana
77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 77°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. Santa Ana sits near 77°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 50% 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
Santa Ana is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $2,082 a month. Choose Santa Ana if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Santa Ana is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than San Francisco (107 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 carries the heavier crime signal on this page (42/100 safety vs 58/100 in Santa Ana). That 16-point spread matters more than the $394 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Santa Ana rent at $2,082/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $2,082 in Santa Ana and $2,476 in San Francisco.
If safety drives your move, Santa Ana is the stronger match (58/100 safety versus 42/100). If an employer or family tie already points to San Francisco, treat $2,476/month rent and $140,970 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Santa Ana, plus other cities in CA.
