City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and St Paul is significant: $140,970 median household versus $73,394. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,281 in St Paul.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Paul 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. St Paul at $1,281 average has pockets that run $1,081 and others at $1,681: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and St Paul are 1,589 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $1,195 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $73,394 in St Paul, down $67,576 (48%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 166 in St Paul, down 17 points (9%).
The move
St Paul and San Francisco are 1,589 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,195 a month (93%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $67,576 (92%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 183 in San Francisco, up 17 points (10%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
48% cheaper
St Paul rent is 48% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so St Paul is 48% cheaper. That's roughly $1,195/month back in your pocket ($14,340/year). Over five years that's $71,700 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 Paul is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
92% higher
San Francisco's median income is 92% higher than St Paul
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 92% higher in San Francisco (about $67,576 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 Paul can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
9% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 9% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in St Paul. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in St Paul, 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
72% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco scores 72% 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 Paul 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 92% 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
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 48% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
St Paul is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than San Francisco (166 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
On rent alone, St Paul undercuts San Francisco by $1,195/month ($1,281 vs $2,476). I would not pick San Francisco on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
St Paul rent at $1,281/month is still below San Francisco's $2,476, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 65°F in San Francisco and 50°F in St Paul.
St Paul is the default on housing cost at $1,281/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco; San Francisco stays in play when $140,970 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $1,195 lease gap.
Common questions
Ready to move to St Paul?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for St Paul when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and St Paul, plus other cities in CA and MN.
