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Data sourced from US Census, BLS, DOT, EPA, Zillow (aggregated)

Last updated: Feb 2026

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RaleighvsSan Francisco

Last updated: Feb 2026
Data Methodology

Moving from Raleigh to San Francisco will cost approximately $499,364 more on median home prices (130.2% higher). Monthly rent is $2,081 more expensive in San Francisco. Median income is 32.3% higher in San Francisco, helping offset housing costs.

Housing
130.2% more
Rent
130.2% more
View RaleighView San Francisco
San Francisco

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Raleigh, NC

Median Home Price$383,515
Monthly Rent$1,598
Median Income$62,694
Population451,949
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Destination

San Francisco, CA

Median Home Price
$882,879+130.2%
Monthly Rent
$3,679+130.2%
Median Income
$82,922+32.3%
Population864,816
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Cities Location Map

Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

Raleigh

2015$1,047
2020$1,252
2025$1,598

San Francisco

2015$3,234
2020$2,856
2025$3,679

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in San Francisco.

Raleigh

Housing$7,889
Food$5,737
Transport$12,986
Healthcare$11,172
Total$43,876

San Francisco

Housing$14,527
Food$6,850
Transport$14,083
Healthcare$11,373
Total$68,844
Costs

Key Insights

130.2%
Housing Cost
more expensive in San Francisco
$2,081
Monthly Rent Difference
additional cost per month
32.3%
Income Level
higher median income

Demographics

Raleigh

Population451,949
Median Age32.8 yrs
Violent Crime Rate420 per 100k
Property Crime Rate2087 per 100k

San Francisco

Population864,816
Median Age38.3 yrs
Violent Crime Rate481 per 100k
Property Crime Rate2165 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

Raleigh

420
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
2087
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

San Francisco

481
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
2165
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or Raleigh?

Raleigh is 130.2% cheaper for housing than San Francisco. The median home price in Raleigh is $383,515 compared to $882,879 in San Francisco.

What is the rent difference between Raleigh and San Francisco?

Monthly rent in San Francisco averages $3,679, while Raleigh averages $1,598. That's a difference of $2,081 per month, or $24,968 annually.

How do incomes compare between Raleigh and San Francisco?

The median household income in San Francisco is $82,922, which is 32.3% higher than Raleigh's median of $62,694.

Which city is safer: Raleigh or San Francisco?

Raleigh has a violent crime rate of 420 per 100k residents, while San Francisco has 481 per 100k. Raleigh is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.

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