San Francisco, CA, and El Paso, TX, provide substantially different living experiences, shaped by their varying geography, culture, economy, and infrastructure. San Francisco, a global tech hub with iconic landmarks, offers a diverse cultural experience but has a high cost of living. On the other hand, El Paso, known for its friendliness, unique Texan-Mexican culture, and connection to military installations, presents a lower cost of living. This comparison explores the crucial aspects of living in these two cities to aid both prospective residents and tourists.
Distance between
San Francisco, CA and
El Paso, TX : 996.2 miles
San Francisco's population is larger by 20%. Its population has grown by 38,468 people (5.0%) since 2000. The population of El Paso has grown by 114,753 people (20.4%) during that time.
In terms of crime and safety, both cities have concerns. San Francisco, despite having a strong police presence, has notable issues with property crime, burglaries, and homelessness. Visitors and residents need to be cautious, especially in certain areas. El Paso, however, consistently ranks as one of the safest large cities in the US, with a lower crime rate than San Francisco. Emergency response services in both cities are reliable.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 829 registered sex offenders living in San Francisco and 1,274 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in San Francisco is 1,051 to 1; the ratio in El Paso is 536 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is a smaller in San Francisco than in El Paso.
Cost of Living
San Francisco significantly outstrips El Paso on the cost of living, reflected in housing, groceries, healthcare, and transportation. As one of the most costly American cities, San Francisco's high salaries, specially in tech, offset some of these costs. On the other hand, El Paso is one of the most affordable cities, providing lower salary scales but also significantly lower living costs.
Income Tax
San Francisco residents are subject to California's state income tax, which is among the highest in the country. Texas, however, does not levy a state income tax, providing a significant saving to El Paso residents.
Property Tax
Both cities have substantial property taxes. San Francisco's property tax rate, although lower than the national average, applies to very high property values. El Paso has higher property tax rates, but they apply to significantly cheaper properties, neutralizing the cost effect.
Sales Tax
California's state sales tax is higher than Texas', with San Francisco imposing an additional city sales tax. Texas has a higher state sales tax, but El Paso does not levy an additional city sales tax, leading to overall lower sales tax rates in El Paso compared to San Francisco.
Income
Type
San Francisco
El Paso
Estimated median household income
$121,826
$51,241
Estimated per capita income
$80,383
$25,670
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
141.1
82.2
If you make $50,000 in El Paso, you will have to make $85,827 in San Francisco to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
San Francisco, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay, is known for its steep hills and beautiful waterfront. El Paso, sandwiched between the Franklin Mountains and the Rio Grande, offers a rugged and scenic desert landscape.
Both cities provide quality education though different systems. San Francisco's robust educational landscape includes top-rated public schools. They also have prestigious universities like the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and San Francisco State University. El Paso offers solid education too, with high-performing public schools and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) being prominent institutions.
The economy of San Francisco is diverse with notable sectors including technology, finance, healthcare, and tourism. It is a global tech hub, home to numerous startups and giants such as Uber, Twitter, and Salesforce. El Paso has an economy largely driven by international trade, healthcare, military, and education with key employers being the Ft. Bliss military base and the University of Texas at El Paso.
Biggest Employers
San Francisco's biggest employers encompass tech companies like Salesforce, Uber, and Twitter, and healthcare providers like UCSF Health. On the contrary, El Paso's largest employers include Fort Bliss, UTEP, and local school districts, as well as healthcare providers like University Medical Center and Del Sol Medical Center.
There were 33 building permits issued in San Francisco in 2012 (2 more than in 2011) compared to 1,961 building permits issued in El Paso in 2012 (1005 less than in 2011).
In San Francisco (San Francisco County), 83.5% voted for Democrats and 13.0% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In El Paso (El Paso County), 65.5% voted for Democrats and 33.2% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
San Francisco
El Paso
San Francisco
El Paso
San Francisco
El Paso
2020
85.3%
66.8%
12.7%
31.6%
2.0%
1.6%
2016
84.6%
69.1%
9.2%
26.0%
6.2%
4.9%
2012
83.5%
65.5%
13.0%
33.2%
3.4%
1.3%
2008
84.4%
66.0%
13.7%
33.4%
2.0%
0.6%
2004
83.0%
56.2%
15.2%
43.3%
1.8%
0.5%
2000
75.7%
57.9%
16.1%
39.8%
8.1%
2.3%
1996
72.2%
62.3%
15.7%
32.1%
12.1%
5.6%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
San Francisco
El Paso
San Francisco
El Paso
CATHOLIC CHURCH
15.0%
43.2%
9.6%
11.3%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.8%
0.1%
3.5%
1.0%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
0.8%
0.1%
1.2%
0.2%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
0.7%
3.3%
8.4%
26.6%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
0.6%
0.0%
2.5%
0.0%
Weather
San Francisco has a Mediterranean climate characterized by cool, foggy summers and mild, wet winters. The city's weather can shift rapidly, sometimes within a day. Conversely, El Paso experiences a hot desert climate with hot summers and mild, dry winters. Both cities enjoy ample sunshine throughout the year, but you'll find hotter temperatures in El Paso.
Weather and climate
Type
San Francisco
El Paso
Temperature - Average
58.3°F
64.6°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
84.3%
42.7%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
29%
42.8%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
91%
59.8%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
62%
17%
Precipitation - Yearly average
22.2 in
9.4 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
0 in
10.7 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
26.8%
31.8%
Sunshine amount - Average
73%
89.4%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
22%
13.9%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
77%
89.3%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
55%
75.4%
Wind speed - Average
11.4 mph
8.9 mph
Average climate in San Francisco, California
Average climate in El Paso, Texas
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
San Francisco
El Paso
San Francisco
El Paso
San Francisco
El Paso
San Francisco
El Paso
San Francisco
El Paso
El Paso
San Francisco
El Paso
San Francisco
El Paso
2018
104
139
0.35
0.17
11.3
14.0
23.4
32.0
0.012
N/A
35.7
N/A
11.9
9.2
0.4
N/A
2017
96
173
0.40
0.19
11.4
13.0
22.5
30.5
0.008
N/A
40.4
N/A
9.9
9.5
0.6
0.5
2016
68
148
0.39
0.17
10.6
12.6
22.4
30.6
0.005
N/A
35.2
N/A
7.9
9.2
0.8
0.5
2015
85
112
0.41
0.18
12.1
12.7
22.5
30.8
0.004
N/A
31.2
N/A
7.9
8.0
0.8
0.5
2014
85
157
0.38
0.13
12.1
12.8
21.8
30.0
0.005
N/A
40.3
N/A
7.7
9.7
0.6
0.4
2013
88
211
0.40
0.23
13.9
14.1
20.4
30.5
0.004
N/A
43.9
N/A
10.2
10.8
0.5
0.4
2012
75
229
0.40
0.30
12.8
15.9
22.7
31.6
0.003
N/A
40.2
N/A
8.2
11.6
1.1
0.4
2011
86
221
0.24
0.23
14.1
15.9
21.3
31.2
0.003
N/A
34.7
N/A
9.5
11.6
1.7
0.5
2010
84
211
0.21
0.25
13.4
15.3
22.0
29.4
0.004
N/A
28.8
N/A
10.6
7.9
1.0
0.3
2009
95
117
0.30
0.23
15.1
15.4
20.4
29.5
0.005
N/A
28.6
N/A
12.8
8.3
1.1
0.3
2008
94
210
0.43
0.25
15.6
15.2
21.7
30.1
0.007
0.017
34.6
N/A
11.7
9.7
0.9
0.6
2007
84
134
0.45
0.28
15.6
13.9
20.5
30.6
0.007
0.019
40.5
N/A
8.9
8.4
1.2
0.4
2006
86
241
0.52
0.37
16.1
14.3
21.5
30.6
N/A
0.018
55.0
N/A
8.7
11.1
1.6
0.3
2005
89
159
0.39
0.43
14.8
13.1
20.5
29.6
N/A
0.013
44.5
N/A
8.8
9.6
1.3
0.6
2004
93
183
0.44
0.38
16.1
13.5
20.9
29.2
0.004
0.020
47.3
N/A
11.2
8.2
2.5
0.4
2003
65
278
0.64
0.46
18.4
15.5
19.7
29.5
N/A
0.039
60.4
N/A
N/A
10.8
1.7
0.6
2002
62
203
0.69
0.43
18.6
16.4
19.6
30.5
0.008
0.034
53.3
N/A
N/A
11.0
1.4
0.4
2001
64
139
0.72
0.51
19.2
15.5
19.0
28.7
0.008
0.046
N/A
N/A
N/A
9.8
1.4
0.7
2000
60
145
0.71
0.67
20.3
17.8
17.1
27.8
0.017
0.072
N/A
N/A
N/A
9.1
2.0
1.0
Natural disasters
Type
San Francisco
El Paso
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
7.7%
4.2%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
7,468.1%
524.4%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
6%
11%
Transportation
San Francisco has an efficient public transportation network, including MUNI buses and trains, BART, ferries, and the iconic cable cars. El Paso counters with the Sun Metro bus system and an international airport. Regarding commuting, San Francisco's traffic can be intense, whereas El Paso offers shorter commute times.
Transport
Type
San Francisco
El Paso
Amtrak stations
4
1
Amtrak stations nearby
3
1
FAA registered aircraft
453
331
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
9
6
Means of transportation to work
Type
San Francisco
El Paso
Bicycle
2.7%
0.3%
Bus
11.4%
1.3%
Carpooled
9.1%
11.2%
Car alone
53.9%
83.4%
Ferryboat
0.4%
0%
Motorcycle
0.9%
0.2%
Railroad
0.7%
0%
Streetcar
7.9%
0%
Subway
1.6%
0%
Taxicab
0.4%
0.1%
Walked
8.3%
1.6%
Average travel time to work
Type
San Francisco
El Paso
Average
38 min
25.1 min
Other means
28.3 min
22.2 min
Public transportation
39.7 min
46.4 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
San Francisco
El Paso
Average
1.2
1.2
Drove alone
85.5%
88.5%
In 2 person carpool
10.1%
7.9%
In 3 person carpool
3.2%
2.1%
In 4 person carpool
0.9%
0.7%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.2%
0.7%
In 7+ person carpool
0.1%
0.1%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real-estate in San Francisco is one of the most expensive markets in the US, with high prices for both rental and owned properties. El Paso, in contrast, boasts a reasonable real estate market, making home ownership attainable for a larger portion of the population.
Neighborhoods
San Francisco's neighborhoods range from upscale areas like Nob Hill and Pacific Heights to culturally diverse ones like Chinatown. El Paso offers quiet residential areas like Kern Place and upscale communities such as Mountain View, each with a distinctive character.
Houses and residents
Type
San Francisco
El Paso
Houses
412,269
261,779
Average household size (people)
2.3
3
Median year apartment built
1953
1982
Median year house/condo built
1942
1985
Length of stay in the house since moving in
16.3 years
14.7 years
Houses occupied
350,796 (85.1%)
242,529 (92.6%)
Houses occupied by owners
140,809 (40.1%)
147,788 (60.9%)
Houses occupied by renters
209,987 (59.9%)
94,741 (39.1%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$3,809
$570.82
Median monthly housing costs
$2,337
$939
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$1,670,841
$227,007
Estimated median house or condo value
Over $1,000,000
$152,800
Median numbers of rooms
3.9
5.4
Median number of rooms in apartments
3.2
4.3
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
5.6
6.2
Median house price - detached houses
Over $1,000,000
$187,761
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
Over $1,000,000
Over $1,000,000
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
Over $1,000,000
$75,782
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
Over $1,000,000
$266,003
Median house price - mobile homes
$517,939
$43,095
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
Over $1,000,000
$149,459
Median house price - All housing units
Over $1,000,000
$186,951
Median house age
76
38
Renting percentage
64.2%
39.6%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
8,829.1
1,051
House value disparities
18.7%
32.7%
Household income disparities
41.7%
46.6%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$210,544
$74,665
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$99,969
$52,954
Housing units without a mortgage
1,778 (1.9%)
1,889 (2.2%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
7,687 (8.3%)
2,956 (3.4%)
Housing units with a mortgage
91,236 (98.1%)
84,973 (97.8%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
471 (0.5%)
250 (0.3%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
9,395 (10.1%)
3,635 (4.2%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
14
14
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
4
1
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
4.7%
2%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
2.7%
2%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
San Francisco
El Paso
One, detached
19.1%
67.7%
One, attached
12.1%
4.4%
Two
9.0%
2.4%
3 or 4
11.4%
4.1%
5 to 9
9.0%
5.9%
10 to 19
9.3%
5.8%
20 to 49
11.3%
2.4%
50 or more
18.7%
4.8%
Mobile homes
0.1%
2.3%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.0%
0.2%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
30,288
19,650
State government workers
22,691
12,525
Unpaid family workers
399
901
Industries and Occupations
In San Francisco, major occupations lie within the technology, healthcare, finance, and tourism sectors. Also, creative industries, maritime, and advanced manufacturing are significant. El Paso's main occupations are in international trade, education, military, and healthcare sectors. Both cities offer a wide range of job opportunities albeit in different sectors.
Both cities offer excellent health care services. San Francisco has world-class hospitals like UCSF Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente. El Paso, with hospitals like Las Palmas Medical Center and Del Sol Medical Center, provides quality healthcare services.
Health (county statistics)
Type
San Francisco
El Paso
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
San Francisco is renowned for its distinctive infrastructure featuring modern skyscrapers and historic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge. El Paso flaunts Spanish colonial architecture and a robust infrastructure owing to constant development initiatives. Both cities benefit from good airport facilities and healthcare infrastructure.
Infrastructure
Type
San Francisco
El Paso
Hospitals
16
41
TV stations
18
10
Arenas or stadiums
2
2
Bank branches located here
281
89
Bank institutions located here
52
19
Main business address for public companies
68
7
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
5
0
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
San Francisco
El Paso
1999
1,402
1,994
2000
1,000
993
2001
733
704
2002
870
594
2003
1,576
1,268
2004
2,147
1,646
2005
2,344
2,316
2006
2,511
2,701
2007
2,117
2,051
2008
1,575
1,034
2009
952
454
Culture and Food
San Francisco is renowned for its diverse culture and international cuisine, including its iconic seafood, sourdough bread, and cuisines from its vibrant immigrant communities. El Paso offers a unique blend of Texan and Mexican culture, reflected in its delicious Tex-Mex cuisine, vibrant festivals, and friendly locals.
Sports Teams
For sports enthusiasts, San Francisco houses professional teams like the Giants (MLB) and the 49ers (NFL). El Paso is home to the minors team El Paso Chihuahuas (MiLB), and UTEP provides collegiate level sports.
San Francisco, CA
El Paso, TX
San Francisco, CA and 
El Paso, TX : 996.2 miles
