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

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2023 FBI UCR data

San Francisco has a crime rate of 49.5 per 1,000 residents vs San Diego's 21.5 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.

F

San Francisco

California

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

San Diego

California

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

Head-to-Head Crime Comparison

MetricSan FranciscoSan Diego
Overall Crime Rate49.5/1K21.5/1K
Violent Crime Rate450.0350.0
Property Crime Rate4500.01800.0
Murder Rate6.86.3
Assault Rate288.5243.0
Robbery Rate61.075.3
Burglary Rate699.8256.4
Theft Rate3660.41479.6
Vehicle Theft Rate1091.0338.9

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 Francisco is safer in 1 and San Diego is safer in 8.

Victim Odds Comparison

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

Full Safety Reports

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

Weather Comparison: San Francisco vs San Diego

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

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

Monthly Temperature Comparison

San FranciscoSan DiegoHigh/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 Francisco safer than San Diego?
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 Francisco or San Diego?
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 Francisco vs San Diego?
San Francisco has a crime rate of 49.5 per 1,000 (violent: 450/100K, property: 4500/100K). San Diego has 21.5 per 1,000 (violent: 350/100K, property: 1800/100K).
Should I move to San Francisco or San Diego?
From a safety perspective, San Diego has lower crime rates across most categories. However, safety is just one factor. San Francisco (pop. 826,079) and San Diego (pop. 1,406,106) 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 Francisco and San Diego 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 Francisco vs Los AngelesSan Francisco vs San JoseSan Francisco vs New YorkSan Diego vs Los AngelesSan Diego vs AustinSan Diego vs San Jose

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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