Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Virginia Beach
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,145 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 50°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 20% higher than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Homes cost $1005k less ($343,700 vs $1,348,700)
85% less violent crime than San Francisco
Rent averages $748/mo less ($1,568 vs $2,316)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $49,145/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$49,145
$136,689 vs $87,544/yr
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
85% lower
92.3 vs 596.5 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$1005k less
$343,700 vs $1,348,700
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
25.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,568⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $87,544 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 457,900 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories. San Francisco wins 9 and Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $343,700 median home), income ($136,689 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,558 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.