Phoenix or San Francisco: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
San Francisco wins on more indicators: 5 of 11 against 4.
- Money: Phoenix 3:1
- Climate and risks: San Francisco 1:4
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Phoenix
Indicator
San Francisco
Money
Better: Phoenix (3 : 1)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$70,055
202449% lower
✓$136,552
202495% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,720
2026-09-3050% lower
✗$3,445
2026-09-30100% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$441,097
2026-09-3061% lower
✗$1,120,379
2026-09-30154% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓103.3 100 = US average
202411% lower
✗115.6 100 = US average
202412% higher
Climate and risks
Better: San Francisco (1 : 4)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗86 AQI
202462% higher
✓53 AQI
202438% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗114 days per year
202411300% higher
✓1 days per year
202499% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✗206 days per year
2016-20253941% higher
✓5 days per year
2016-202598% lower
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
384 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,365 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,923 °C·days per year
2016-2025
80 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
23 days per year
2016-2025
51 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
156 mm per year
2016-2025
539 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
10.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.5 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.4 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.8 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
30 %
2021-2025
74 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
lower is better
✗7 days per year
2021-2025
✓0 days per year
2021-2025
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
261 km
2006-2025
2 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✓0.00 per year
2006-2025
✗0.20 per year
2006-2025
Strongest earthquake in the period
no data for one of the places
no data
6.0 magnitude
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
5,186,958 people
2024
4,648,486 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Phoenix, San Francisco.