Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 14 of 22 categories
San Francisco
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Tampa
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,887 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1016k less ($333,200 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $894/mo less ($1,422 vs $2,316)
25% less violent crime than San Francisco
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $69,887/yr
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$69,887
$136,689 vs $66,802/yr
Tampa
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
25% lower
444.6 vs 596.5 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$1016k less
$333,200 vs $1,348,700
Tampa
Summer Heat
29.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 16.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 388,768 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 14 of 22 categories. San Francisco wins 8 and Tampa wins 14. 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 San Francisco to Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $333,200 median home), income ($136,689 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Tampa, FL are about 2,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.