Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
San Francisco
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $1009k less ($340,200 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $994/mo less ($1,322 vs $2,316)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 59°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $64,597/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,597 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Phoenix
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 104°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 19% higher than Phoenix
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$1009k less
$340,200 vs $1,348,700
Phoenix
Summer Heat
42.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$64,597
$136,689 vs $72,092/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
25% lower
596.5 vs 799.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 851,036 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 13 and San Francisco wins 10. 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 Phoenix to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($72,092 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and San Francisco, CA are about 678 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.