Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891
Violent Crime Index
94 ✓ Safer
Population
149,960
San Francisco
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $910k less ($438,900 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $799/mo less ($1,517 vs $2,316)
40% less violent crime than San Francisco
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $52,798/yr
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,798 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Violent Crime
40% lower
357.6 vs 596.5 per 100k
Charleston
Median Home Value
$910k less
$438,900 vs $1,348,700
Charleston
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Charleston
Summer Heat
25.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$52,798
$136,689 vs $83,891/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Charleston leads 14 of 23 categories. Charleston wins 14 and San Francisco wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Charleston to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($83,891 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and San Francisco, CA are about 2,431 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.