Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reno, NV
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Reno leads 14 of 23 categories
Reno
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196
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.
Reno, NV
Pros
Homes cost $887k less ($462,100 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $956/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,316)
11% less violent crime than San Francisco
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $63,616/yr
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,616 more per year on average
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 46°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Reno
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Violent Crime
11% lower
529.6 vs 596.5 per 100k
Reno
Median Home Value
$887k less
$462,100 vs $1,348,700
Reno
Summer Heat
30.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$63,616
$136,689 vs $73,073/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reno, NV | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $462,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,073 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.2" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 265,196 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reno's cost of living index is 102.8 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Reno is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 14 of 23 categories. Reno wins 14 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 Reno to San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($462,100 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($73,073 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reno, NV and San Francisco, CA are about 213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.