Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088
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.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $1152k less ($196,700 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1304/mo less ($1,012 vs $2,316)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $72,438/yr
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $72,438 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Oklahoma City
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$1152k less
$196,700 vs $1,348,700
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
31.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$72,438
$136,689 vs $64,251/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
12% lower
596.5 vs 676.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories. Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($64,251 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and San Francisco, CA are about 1,420 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.