Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612
San Francisco
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $966k less ($383,000 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $852/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,316)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $57,663/yr
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,663 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°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
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Colorado Springs
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$966k less
$383,000 vs $1,348,700
Colorado Springs
Summer Heat
24.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$57,663
$136,689 vs $79,026/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
17% lower
596.5 vs 715.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 11 and San Francisco wins 12. 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 Colorado Springs to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($79,026 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and San Francisco, CA are about 992 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.