City comparison
No. Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 48 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Scottsdale is cheaper. Median rent is $2,013 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
Safety is where San Francisco and Scottsdale split most clearly. Scottsdale scores 104 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $2,476 in San Francisco and $2,013 in Scottsdale.
This is a genuine split. San Francisco wins on the job market and Scottsdale 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. Scottsdale at $2,013 average has pockets that run $1,813 and others at $2,413: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Scottsdale are 660 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $2,013 a month in Scottsdale, down $463 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $110,886 in Scottsdale, down $30,084 (21%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 79 in Scottsdale, down 104 points (57%).
The move
Scottsdale and San Francisco are 660 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,013 a month in Scottsdale to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $463 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $110,886 in Scottsdale to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $30,084 (27%).
The crime index goes from 79 in Scottsdale to 183 in San Francisco, up 104 points (132%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Scottsdale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Scottsdale rent is 19% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Scottsdale
Winner$2,013/mo
Typical rent runs $2,013 a month in Scottsdale versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Scottsdale is 19% 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 $5,556, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
San Francisco's median income is 27% higher than Scottsdale
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Scottsdale
$110,886
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $110,886 in Scottsdale, so typical pay runs 27% higher in San Francisco (about $30,084 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. Scottsdale can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
57% lower crime
Scottsdale's crime index is 57% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale
Winner79 (100 = avg)
Scottsdale's crime index is 79 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% lower in Scottsdale. 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, Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale are about even on typical weather.
San Francisco
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Scottsdale
79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Scottsdale averages about 79°F (86°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Scottsdale sits near 79°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 27% 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
Scottsdale is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $2,013 a month. Choose Scottsdale if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Scottsdale is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 57% lower than San Francisco (79 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Scottsdale leads on safety (67/100 vs 42/100 in San Francisco). Typical rent is $2,013 in Scottsdale and $2,476 in San Francisco; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $110,886), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Median income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $110,886 in Scottsdale.
Between San Francisco and Scottsdale, Scottsdale is ahead on safety — 67/100 safety versus 42/100. Lean San Francisco instead when you already know the San Francisco block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Scottsdale?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Scottsdale when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Scottsdale, plus other cities in CA and AZ.
