Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 19 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Homes cost $355k less ($417,600 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $370/mo less ($1,627 vs $1,997)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 58°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Cons
Median income trails San Leandro by $21,765/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,765 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Lauderdale
Median Home Value
$355k less
$417,600 vs $772,700
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
18.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$21,765
$97,141 vs $75,376/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 21.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 18.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 41.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 17.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 17.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Lauderdale is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 13 of 19 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 13 and San Leandro wins 6. 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 Fort Lauderdale to San Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $772,700 median home), income ($75,376 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and San Leandro, CA are about 2,566 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.