City comparison
Yes. San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and St Louis is significant: $140,970 median household versus $56,160. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $997 in St Louis.
San Francisco is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone San Francisco is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and St Louis are 1,741 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $997 a month in St Louis, down $1,479 a month (60%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $56,160 in St Louis, down $84,810 (60%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 352 in St Louis, up 169 points (92%).
The move
St Louis and San Francisco are 1,741 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,479 a month (148%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $84,810 (151%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 183 in San Francisco, down 169 points (48%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
60% cheaper
St Louis rent is 60% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so St Louis is 60% cheaper. That's roughly $1,479/month back in your pocket ($17,748/year). Over five years that's $88,740 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, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in San Francisco? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
151% higher
San Francisco's median income is 151% higher than St Louis
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 151% higher in San Francisco (about $84,810 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. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
48% lower crime
San Francisco's crime index is 48% lower than St Louis
San Francisco
Winner183 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% lower in San Francisco. 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, San Francisco is the easier city. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 15% more comfortable than St Louis
San Francisco
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
San Francisco averages about 62°F (69°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). San Francisco averages around 62°F. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco scores 15% 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 St Louis 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 151% higher ($140,970), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
San Francisco is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 48% lower than St Louis (183 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 60% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: St Louis at $997/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco ($1,479 apart). San Francisco median income is $140,970 against $56,160 in St Louis, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
St Louis rent at $997/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 22/100 in St Louis.
Pick St Louis when shaving $1,479 off rent at $997/month is the priority. Otherwise, San Francisco's case rests on $2,476/month rent with $140,970 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and St Louis, plus other cities in CA and MO.
