San Francisco vs. LA 

Cost of Living

Although both cities are expensive compared to the national average, San Francisco is significantly more costly. The cost of living in San Francisco is 25.3% higher than in Los Angeles, and rent prices are 26% higher. The median sales price of a home in San Francisco is $1.32 million, whereas, in LA, the median price is $920,000. The average rent on a one-bedroom apartment in the heart of San Francisco is $3284.48, compared to $2616.31 in LA. Plus, the purchasing power of an average resident is also 5.4% lower in San Francisco, making LA the clear winner in this category.

Winner: Los Angeles

Weather

Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate known for its warm weather and mild winters. San Francisco also has a Mediterranean climate that is strongly influenced by the cool currents from the Pacific Ocean and is famous for its rain and fog. Los Angeles gets much hotter in the summer, with a high of 83.6°F and a winter low of 45.9°F. In contrast, San Francisco features a summer high of 67.2°F and a winter low of 45.5°F. But it also features more rain, averaging 24.6 inches per year, compared to 15.5 inches in LA. While both have advantages, most residents prefer the mild weather of LA to San Francisco.

Winner: Los Angeles  

Public Transportation

San Francisco’s public transportation system is widely believed to be better than in LA. Los Angeles is much more spread out and has a stronger car culture that has become infamous for its dense traffic. San Francisco is comparably smaller and more densely populated, and residents are more likely to take the public transportation system, which includes various options, including street cars, busses, ferries, cable cars, and light rail. Los Angeles also has an extensive public transportation system that includes many of the same options. But overall, San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system is regarded as one of the best in the world due to its efficiency, price, and extensive network.

Winner: San Francisco

Job Opportunities

Which city offers the most job opportunities largely depends on the field that you’re in. San Francisco has a GDP of around $577.35 billion and a future job growth rate of 39.1%. It’s famous for being a major hub for the tech industry, thanks to Silicon Valley. However, its economy is also supported by manufacturing, textile production, food processing, and tourism. The GDP of the Los Angeles metro area is about $950 billion, although it has a future job growth rate of 34.6%. LA is famous for being the home of Hollywood and the entertainment industry, but residents will also find opportunities in aerospace, fashion, and design. Both offer opportunity, but San Francisco has a slight advantage as industries in the Bay area tend to be more stable and easier to break into, compared to the film and entertainment-dominated landscape of Los Angeles.

Winner: San Francisco

Cuisine and Lifestyle 

San Francisco is known for having some of the best restaurants in the world, especially when it comes to seafood and Asian cuisine. But being the larger city, LA offers more ethnic diversity, experimental restaurants, and healthy dining options. San Francisco is also known for its laidback culture and small-town feel that offers a great work-life balance, whereas LA is known for glitz and glam and wild nightlife. Which is better is a matter of preference, but San Francisco has over 55 Michelin-star restaurants, and it’s more walkable, giving it a slight advantage over LA.  

Winner: San Francisco

Crime Rate 

Although both cities suffer from crime, Los Angeles is actually safer. The crime rate in LA is 2870 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is 22% higher than the national average. The violent crime rate is 722 per 100,000 residents, which is 86% higher than the national average. The total crime rate in San Francisco is 4,938 per 100,000 residents, which is 111% higher than the US average. However, the violent crime rate is 544 per 100,000 residents, 40% higher than the national average. So, your chances of being the victim of a violent crime are lower in San Francisco, but the overall crime rate is still considerably higher, which makes LA the winner of this category.

Winner: Los Angeles

City Culture 

Both cities have a unique ambiance and attractions that appeal to residents from all over the world. However, San Francisco tends to have a stronger identity than Los Angeles. San Francisco has a culture that is more reminiscent of East Coast cities like New York or Boston, which are rooted in intellectualism, high art, museums, and architecture. Los Angeles is younger and hipper in comparison and more rooted in lifestyle, experience, and creativity. While both have something interesting to offer, the ever-evolving landscape of media and entertainment means that LA offers less character than San Francisco.

Winner: San Francisco

Commute Times 

Although they are very close, Los Angeles residents experience slightly shorter commute times than San Francisco. The mean travel time to work in Los Angeles is 31.6 minutes, whereas in San Francisco, its 32.8 minutes. While it’s only a difference of 1.2 minutes, this equates to an extra 320 minutes annually when applied to the 260 workable days in the calendar year. So, while the difference may seem minor, it does make a difference when you add it up over time.  

Winner: Los Angeles

Quality of Life Index 

San Francisco offers a slightly higher quality of life index score than Los Angeles. The quality-of-life index is a system that assigns a numeric score to key components that impact the livability of an area, such as purchasing power, cost of living, safety, pollution, and more. The quality of life index score for San Francisco is 143.44 compared to 136.24 in Los Angeles. Although they are close in many respects, the traffic and pollution in LA give San Francisco a slight advantage.

Winner: San Francisco

San Francisco vs. LA Comparison Winner

San Francisco vs. LA Bottom Line

San Francisco and Los Angeles are iconic cities with plenty to offer from all walks of life. However, San Francisco has a slight advantage over LA in terms of culture, lifestyle, and career opportunities. It’s a bit more expensive and features a higher property crime rate. But ultimately, it’s a wonderful city that is perfect for families and young professionals alike and offers a unique character that makes it slightly more enticing than Los Angeles.