Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 McAllen leads 13 of 22 categories
McAllen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
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.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1190k less ($158,700 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1361/mo less ($955 vs $2,316)
75% less violent crime than San Francisco
32% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $80,363/yr
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $80,363 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 32% higher than McAllen
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
32% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
75% lower
150.0 vs 596.5 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$1190k less
$158,700 vs $1,348,700
McAllen
Summer Heat
35.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$80,363
$136,689 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 32% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McAllen leads 13 of 22 categories. McAllen wins 13 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 McAllen to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($56,326 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and San Francisco, CA are about 1,648 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.