City comparison
Yes. San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 203 in Winston Salem, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 225, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Winston Salem is significant: $140,970 median household versus $59,268. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,087 in Winston Salem.
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. Winston Salem 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. Winston Salem at $1,087 average has pockets that run $887 and others at $1,487: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Winston Salem are 2,312 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $1,389 a month (56%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $81,702 (58%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 203 in Winston Salem, up 20 points (11%).
The move
Winston Salem and San Francisco are 2,312 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $1,389 a month (128%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $81,702 (138%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 183 in San Francisco, down 20 points (10%).
San Francisco, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Winston Salem, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Francisco and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
56% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 56% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Winston Salem is 56% cheaper. That's roughly $1,389/month back in your pocket ($16,668/year). Over five years that's $83,340 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, Winston Salem 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
138% higher
San Francisco's median income is 138% higher than Winston Salem
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 138% higher in San Francisco (about $81,702 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. Winston Salem can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
10% lower crime
San Francisco's crime index is 10% lower than Winston Salem
San Francisco
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
203 (100 = avg)
San Francisco's crime index is 183 versus 203 in Winston Salem (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in San Francisco. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in San Francisco, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Winston Salem. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
San Francisco weather is 33% more comfortable than Winston Salem
San Francisco
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
San Francisco averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). San Francisco sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Francisco scores 33% 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 Winston Salem 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 138% 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.
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 10% lower than Winston Salem (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 Winston Salem
Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 56% cheaper here at about $1,087 a month. Choose Winston Salem 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: Winston Salem at $1,087/month versus $2,476 in San Francisco ($1,389 apart). San Francisco median income is $140,970 against $59,268 in Winston Salem, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Winston Salem rent at $1,087/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 56°F in Winston Salem.
Winston Salem clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. San Francisco deserves a serious look only when your $140,970 income offer in San Francisco outweighs saving $1,389/month in Winston Salem.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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