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San Diego vs San Francisco: Crime & Safety Comparison (2026)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2023 FBI UCR data

San Diego has a crime rate of 21.5 per 1,000 residents vs San Francisco's 49.5 per 1,000, making San Diego 57% safer overall. San Diego earns a B- safety grade compared to San Francisco's F. Both figures are based on 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

B-

San Diego

California

Overall GradeB-
Violent CrimeB-
Property CrimeB-
Crime Rate21.5/1K
Percentile54%
F

San Francisco

California

Overall GradeF
Violent CrimeC+
Property CrimeF
Crime Rate49.5/1K
Percentile4%

Head-to-Head Crime Comparison

MetricSan DiegoSan Francisco
Overall Crime Rate21.5/1K49.5/1K
Violent Crime Rate350.0450.0
Property Crime Rate1800.04500.0
Murder Rate6.36.8
Assault Rate243.0288.5
Robbery Rate75.361.0
Burglary Rate256.4699.8
Theft Rate1479.63660.4
Vehicle Theft Rate338.91091.0

Crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data. Lower rates are better (safer).

Category Winner Summary

Out of 9 crime categories, San Diego is safer in 8 and San Francisco is safer in 1.

Victim Odds Comparison

In San Diego, you have a 1 in 47 chance of being a crime victim per year vs 1 in 20 in San Francisco.

Full Safety Reports

B-
San Diego, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends
F
San Francisco, California Safety ReportFull crime breakdown, FAQs, and trends

Weather Comparison: San Diego vs San Francisco

San Diego Climate Overview

Annual High70.7°F
Annual Low57.1°F
Annual Rain10.8"
Annual SnowNone
Comfortable Months12
Best MonthJuly
Worst MonthFebruary
Monthly Temperature
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
ComfortableWarm

San Francisco Climate Overview

Annual High64.1°F
Annual Low51°F
Annual Rain22.2"
Annual SnowNone
Comfortable Months9
Best MonthSeptember
Worst MonthJanuary
Monthly Temperature
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Comfortable

Monthly Temperature Comparison

San DiegoSan FranciscoHigh/Low °F range
40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

San Diego is 7°F warmer in summer than San Francisco, but winter temperatures are comparable. San Francisco is wetter with 22" of annual rain compared to 11". San Diego has more comfortable weather months (12 vs 9).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Diego safer than San Francisco?
As of 2026, San Diego is 57% safer overall, with a crime rate of 21.5 per 1,000 residents compared to San Francisco's 49.5. San Diego earns a B- safety grade vs San Francisco's F. Based on 2023 FBI UCR data.
Which city has more violent crime, San Diego or San Francisco?
San Francisco has more violent crime at 450 per 100,000 residents. San Diego is safer for violent crime. The national average is 363.8 per 100,000.
What is the crime rate in San Diego vs San Francisco?
San Diego has a crime rate of 21.5 per 1,000 (violent: 350/100K, property: 1800/100K). San Francisco has 49.5 per 1,000 (violent: 450/100K, property: 4500/100K).
Should I move to San Diego or San Francisco?
From a safety perspective, San Diego has lower crime rates across most categories. However, safety is just one factor. San Diego (pop. 1,406,106) and San Francisco (pop. 826,079) differ in cost of living, job market, climate, and culture. San Diego's B- safety grade is a plus, but research all factors before deciding.
How do San Diego and San Francisco compare for property crime?
San Diego has lower property crime at 1800 per 100K vs San Francisco's 4500. The national average is 1,832 per 100K. Theft is the most common property crime in both cities.

Related Comparisons

San Diego vs Los AngelesSan Diego vs AustinSan Diego vs San JoseSan Francisco vs Los AngelesSan Francisco vs San JoseSan Francisco vs New York

2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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