Fort Lauderdale FL vs San Francisco CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Florida · Population: 183,032
- Median HH Income$79,935
- Median Home Price$510,297
- Unemployment5.3%
- Bachelor's+39.8%
San Francisco, CA
California · Population: 836,321
- Median HH Income$141,446
- Median Home Price$1,369,171
- Unemployment5.6%
- Bachelor's+60.1%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Fort Lauderdale
183,032
San Francisco
836,321
San Francisco +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
San Francisco
N/A
Median Age
Fort Lauderdale
42.9
San Francisco
39.7
San Francisco +
Foreign Born
Fort Lauderdale
26.7%
San Francisco
34.2%
San Francisco +
White
Fort Lauderdale
51.3%
Fort Lauderdale +
San Francisco
40.5%
Black
Fort Lauderdale
28.8%
Fort Lauderdale +
San Francisco
5.1%
Asian
Fort Lauderdale
1.6%
San Francisco
35.0%
San Francisco +
Hispanic
Fort Lauderdale
20.1%
Fort Lauderdale +
San Francisco
15.9%
Spanish at Home
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
San Francisco
N/A
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 183,032 | 836,321 | San Francisco + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 42.9 | 39.7 | San Francisco + |
| Foreign Born | 26.7% | 34.2% | San Francisco + |
| White | 51.3% | 40.5% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Black | 28.8% | 5.1% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Asian | 1.6% | 35.0% | San Francisco + |
| Hispanic | 20.1% | 15.9% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Fort Lauderdale
$79,935
San Francisco
$141,446
San Francisco +
Per Capita Income
Fort Lauderdale
$57,845
San Francisco
$90,285
San Francisco +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fort Lauderdale
$65,328
San Francisco
$77,230
San Francisco +
Unemployment Rate
Fort Lauderdale
5.3%
Fort Lauderdale +
San Francisco
5.6%
Poverty Rate
Fort Lauderdale
15.2%
San Francisco
10.6%
San Francisco +
Bachelor's Degree+
Fort Lauderdale
39.8%
San Francisco
60.1%
San Francisco +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $79,935 | $141,446 | San Francisco + |
| Per Capita Income | $57,845 | $90,285 | San Francisco + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $77,230 | San Francisco + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 5.6% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Poverty Rate | 15.2% | 10.6% | San Francisco + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 39.8% | 60.1% | San Francisco + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
$510,297
Fort Lauderdale +
San Francisco
$1,369,171
Homeownership Rate
Fort Lauderdale
53.8%
Fort Lauderdale +
San Francisco
38.5%
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $510,297 | $1,369,171 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 38.5% | Fort Lauderdale + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
324
Fort Lauderdale +
San Francisco
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
1453
Fort Lauderdale +
San Francisco
2388
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 503 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 2388 | Fort Lauderdale + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
30.3%
San Francisco
17.5%
San Francisco +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
12.8%
San Francisco
9.7%
San Francisco +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fort Lauderdale
16.2%
San Francisco
14.5%
San Francisco +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.7%
San Francisco
6.6%
San Francisco +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.9%
Fort Lauderdale +
San Francisco
19.6%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
13.0%
San Francisco
9.1%
San Francisco +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 30.3% | 17.5% | San Francisco + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.8% | 9.7% | San Francisco + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.2% | 14.5% | San Francisco + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 14.7% | 6.6% | San Francisco + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 14.9% | 19.6% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 13.0% | 9.1% | San Francisco + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
75.5°F
San Francisco
55.3°F
San Francisco +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
66.5 in
San Francisco
20.7 in
San Francisco +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 75.5°F | 55.3°F | San Francisco + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 66.5 in | 20.7 in | San Francisco + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
7.2 µg/m³
Fort Lauderdale +
San Francisco
7.9 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Fort Lauderdale
75.0%
San Francisco
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
28.5 min
Fort Lauderdale +
San Francisco
33.9 min
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | San Francisco, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 28.5 min | 33.9 min | Fort Lauderdale + |
Which City is Right for You?
San Francisco leads in median household income at $141,446, while fort Lauderdale offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $510,297. On public safety, Fort Lauderdale is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in San Francisco. Fort Lauderdale has a lower unemployment rate at 5.3%, and Fort Lauderdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, San Francisco scores better with a lower obesity rate of 17.5%.
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