San Francisco or Los Angeles: Which Should You Visit in 2025?

Trying to choose between San Francisco vs Los Angeles? These two iconic Californian cities are located right on the Pacific ocean, and have many of the qualities people dream of when they think of California.

While both cities are beautiful and exciting, San Francisco and Los Angeles have very dramatic differences.

San Francisco has a more slow paced lifestyle with eco-friendly, sustainable values. If you want a walkable, compact city with proximity to beautiful nature and hiking, then you should probably choose San Francisco.

If you prefer a larger, more cosmopolitan feel and what is stereotypical of California (beaches, palm trees, and the show business scene) then I think you should choose Los Angeles.

I lived in California for three months, and spent time in both San Francisco and LA. I have family connections in the San Francisco which has brought me back there a number of times.

I recommend visiting both cities if you have time. However, if you have to choose between one to either move to or visit, then you’re in the right place.

I’m going to talk about the highlights, honest pros and cons, and and major differences between San Francisco and California that you should be aware of before choosing.

So, let’s jump in!

Attractions in San Francisco vs Los Angeles

Both San Francisco and Los Angeles are such exciting cities, they both have countless attractions for visitors and locals. Here are the highlights of the best things to do in each city

The verdict: While there are fun things to do in both cities, San Francisco tends to have more outdoor-based activities with its proximity to nature, whereas Los Angeles has more exciting city attractions – neighbourhoods, amusement parks, museums, concert venues, etc.

Key Differences

✅ LA is much larger than San Francisco. The population in 2023 of LA was 12.5 million, whereas in San Francisco, it’s only just over 800,000.

✅ San Fransisco is more densely populated than LA, and is the most densely populated city in California. So while the city limits are smaller, there are more people crammed in to those limits

✅ Los Angeles has a lot more ‘urban sprawl.’ Neighbourhoods like Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Hollywood and Beverly Hills feel like different communities and towns but are actually all apart of LA

✅ Both San Francisco and Los Angeles have beaches, but LA beaches are much warmer, and better for swimming than the beaches in San Francisco.

✅ The San Francisco shoreline is windier, and the water is colder. It’s a great place to surf, but not its always ideal for swimming.

These differences mean that:

• Since Los Angeles is so large geographically, it’s more of a hassle to get ‘out’ of the city.
  
• If you like to sunbathe and swim at the beach, then you can do more of that in LA than in San Francisco.
  
• San Francisco may be best for nature lovers who want to get out of the city and be in the wilderness. Since the city is smaller, you don’t have to travel too far to be out in the mountains and trails

Which is safer?

San Francisco and Los Angeles both have higher crime rates than the national average.

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the US, so a higher-than-usual crime rate is not surprising.

However, Los Angeles tends to be statistically safer than San Francisco. All the stats you read on the internet will show that LA has lower levels of both violent crime and petty crimes compared to San Francisco.

Then, this article reported in 2023 that more locals viewed San Francisco as unsafe than LA.

It doesn’t surprise me to read that – my brother lived in San Francisco for almost 10 years, and it seemed to get progressively more dangerous during that time, especially with regards to car break-ins.

Car break-ins in San Fransisco

San Fransisco has been experiencing a ‘car break in crisis,’ which has been getting worse since 2010. This article by the San Francisco Chronicle details the problem with statistics you can look at.

The situation has become so bad that people are leaving notes on their dashboard telling others that they don’t have anything of value in the car, and to please not break into it.

They also leave their cars unlocked, because its better than having someone break the windows.

This car break-in phenomenon has prompted the city to create a car break in tracker (which you can access only with a subscription.) It allows you to see all the car break-ins, and break-in attempts in any given area.

Safety Tips for San Francisco

Because of the prevalence of car break-ins in San Francisco, I advise against renting a car there and instead stick to public transit.

If you do rent a car, then follow these tips which are given by a car insurance company in the Bay Area specifically about preventing your car from being broken into in San Francisco.

Rule # 1 is to not ever leave any valuables in your car or rental car.

Like most major cities, you are generally safe from most other types of crime when you’re in the touristy areas.

Stick to touristy areas such as the Marina District and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Crime in LA

Los Angeles, while safer than San Francisco, still has one of the highest crime rates in the country.

According to the year-end crime statistics released for 2023, violent crime has decreased but other crimes such as theft, traffic related accidents are on the increase.

I recommend staying in Santa Monica.

The verdict: San Francisco’s crime rate is higher, mostly because of the car break ins. There are neighbourhoods in each city with higher crime rates, so knowing where to go and where to avoid is key for a safe and enjoyable experience.

Which is more expensive?

While both Los Angeles and San Francisco are known for being pricey cities, San Francisco is more expensive than Los Angeles when it comes to cost of living (rent, food, etc.)

According to Forbes, the cost of living is about 12% higher in San Francisco than in LA.

However, if you’re visiting as a tourist, you will probably find San Francisco and Los Angeles similar in price. Average short-term accommodation costs (including hotels) in the major touristy areas are around the same price.

Hotels in downtown LA usually range from $200-300 per night, and that is around the the same as staying in the tourist hotspot ares of San Francisco.

The verdict: If you’re looking to live in one of these cities longterm, then San Francisco ends up being a bit pricier than LA. However, as a tourist – it won’t make a huge difference.

Pros and Cons of San Francisco vs Los Angeles

Exploring the strengths and weaknesses of San Francisco and Los Angeles is an excellent way to determine the ideal city for you. Having visited both cities, I can provide insights into the pros and cons of each. Take a look at the details below.

Pros and Cons of San Francisco

Pros and Cons of Los Angeles

You should choose Los Angeles if..

• You crave excitement, things to do and shopping for classic California souvenirs (not that there aren’t souvenirs in SF too)
• You want the corporate feel
• You love live entertainment like theatres, sporting events, and concert venues
• You want to see tourist attractions like the Hollywood Sign, the Hollywood Star homes, movie sets, and celebrity sightings
• You want an energetic atmosphere during the day and at night
• You want to be close enough to explore other major US cities frequently, such as Phoenix and Las Vegas

You should choose San Francisco if…

• You prefer nature; hiking, exploring the outdoors
• You like winter sports, like skiing or boarding (its a quick flight to the rockies)
• You’re ok with cooler weather
• You want a more laid-back experience
• You want a more walkable city
• You want to take in the views of the Golden Gate Bridge 
• You want to see popular attractions like Pier 39 and the infamous cable cars
• You want nature-based day trip and weekend getaway options, such as Lake Tahoe, Crater Lake

Best Places to Stay in San Francisco and Los Angeles

Is it Better to Fly into Los Angeles or San Francisco? 

Overall, flying into San Francisco is a nicer experience than flying into Los Angeles.

Many travellers find it easier to fly into San Francisco because:

• It’s a smaller airport
• It offers good, easy-to use public transport options from the airport like the BART train system

Los Angeles’ LAX is the 6th busiest airport in the world, and covers over 3,500 acres of land – its massive! It’s known for its congestion, size, and ongoing construction.

It’s a zoo during peak travel times, which obviously isn’t pleasant. To be honest, I never look forward to having layovers there.

However, there are some good points to the LAX airport in Los Angeles to keep in mind:

• It’s very quite large, so there’s lots of cuisine and shopping options
• It offers more flight options and more direct routes to different cities than San Francisco does. This makes it a good choice if you have a specific place you want to go that’s not offered by smaller airports and you don’t want a layover. 
• It tends to have fewer delays due to weather compared to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which can sometimes be affected by heavy fog. 

My family’s experience getting stranded at SFO

My family and I got stranded and had to spend the night at SFO last year. We were denied boarding our flight to Reno, and myself, husband, pre-teen and toddler all had to sleep on the airport benches. It was not a good experience.

Having said that, the SFO staff made the experience as pleasant as possible. They provided ‘overnight kits’ for people who have to sleep over (with toothpaste, deodorant, and a think airplane blanket.)

Also, the food options at SFO were great. I had the most delicious croissant and coffee in the morning when we woke up.

The verdict: Although both airports have their pros and cons, travellers often prefer flying into San Francisco rather than Los Angeles. It’s just a very ‘nice’ airport, with convenient transportation options that take you directly into the city.

Day Trips + Weekend Getaways from San Francisco vs LA

Sometimes it’s not just about what is in the city we visit, but its surroundings and the things there are to do outside the city limits. Here are the things you can do within driving distance of San Francisco and LA.

Day trip options from San Francisco 

1. San Jose

San Jose, just 50 miles southeast of San Francisco, is a great place to visit. It’s famous for its location in Silicon Valley and has loads of attractions to enjoy. You can explore The Tech Interactive Museum, the Winchester Mystery House, or the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. 

If those aren’t your thing, San Jose also has options like the Santana Row shopping mall, the Municipal Rose Garden, and California’s Great America amusement park to make your visit fun and exciting.

2. Sacramento

Sacramento, located around 90 miles northeast of San Francisco, is California’s capital city and a fantastic place to visit. It’s known for its rich history, beautiful parks, and fascinating museums. 

Some top attractions include the California State Capitol Museum, the Crocker Art Museum, and the California State Railroad Museum. You’ll also enjoy exploring William Land Regional Park and California State Capitol Park for some outdoor fun. 

And don’t forget to wander through the Old Sacramento Waterfront, where you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time with its old west charm, scenic boardwalk, cobblestone streets, and adorable candy shops.

Weekend getaways from San Fransisco

Lake Tahoe, a large glacier lake located half in California and half in Nevada. It’s a popular tourist destination, for couples, friends and families.

Yosemite National Park, just 3.5 hour drive from San Fransico

Oregon. San Fransisco is a short flight to Rogue Valley International Medford Airport in Oregon. From there, you can explore places like Crater Lake (2.5 from airport) or Bend, Oregon (3 hours from airport.)

Day trip options from LA

Malibu

Malibu, located around 40 miles (64 km) west of Los Angeles has stunning beaches such as El Matador State Beach and Point Dume State Beach. It’s a cute coastal town with cozy beach cafes. It’s perfect for a break from the city buzz.

Malibu is also a popular spot for celebrities, so keep an eye out for famous faces!

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a city less than 2 hours north of from Los Angeles. It has a slow-paced beach lifestyle, historic architecture, mountains and some of the best wine in California. It’s a the perfect day or weekend trip from LA.

San Diego

San Diego, located about 120 miles (193 km) southeast of Los Angeles, is another city with exciting attractions – the San Diego Zoo and picturesque Balboa Park to the maritime history at the USS Midway Museum and stunning beaches like La Jolla Cove.

My brother recently moved to San Diego from Lake Tahoe, and is loving it there. There’s a lot of mix of outdoor and exciting attractions. It’s very family friendy.

The city is also home to Petco Park, where the San Diego Padres play. Even though San Diego is also a big city, it offers a charming escape from the busy Los Angeles.

Weekend Getaways from LA

Las Vegas is just over an hour’s flight from Los Angeles, and easily doable in a weekend getaway from LA.

Phoenix is around an hour and a half flight from LA, and is the perfect hub for exploring the desserts of Arizona

The verdict: The day trip and getaway options from Los Angeles tend to be bigger, more exciting and famous (like Las Vegas, San Diego, Malibu, etc.) Of course, you can still visit these places from San Francisco, but LA is much closer to them. From San Francisco, you’re much closer to nature-based areas like Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Crater Lake, etc.

My Personal Opinion

My personal opinion is that San Francisco is the better place to live, but Los Angeles makes the more exciting place to visit.

I think it would be more fulfilling to live in San Francisco, and just visit LA. The reason I think this is because San Francisco is just such a pleasant, beautiful city. There are so many gorgeous, natural views. The cable cars, and the ambiance of the downtown reminded me of Melbourne, Australia.

LA is very nice as well (my favourite area is Santa Monica.) But it didn’t feel like a place I would see myself settling down in and calling home.

What you should know about me when making this decision though: I’m an introvert, I would prefer a hike over a night out. While I find big cities exciting, I prefer spending most of my time somewhere quieter and more picturesque.

So, if you’re like me – there’s a good chance that you would prefer San Francisco too. If this doesn’t sound like you at all – then LA might be your best bet!

San Fransisco or Los Angeles FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about visiting San Francisco or Los Angeles.

Is it cooler in San Francisco or Los Angeles? (H3)

San Francisco is a lot cooler than Los Angeles. The temperature in San Francisco typically ranges from the low 70s to mid-40s in Fahrenheit (anywhere from 4 to low 25 in Celsius) while Los Angeles can reach up to the mid-80s and gets as low as the upper 40s. 

Is traffic worse in San Francisco or Los Angeles? (H3)

The traffic is bad in both cities, but its worse in San Francisco than Los Angeles. A new study was released at the beginning of 2024 that surprised many people when San Francisco was ranked #3 for worse traffic and Los Angeles was a few spots below it at #9. 

Is San Francisco one of the most beautiful cities? 

San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world thanks to its Golden Gate Bridge, coastal views, stunning skyline, and unique geography.

Final Thoughts on Choosing Between San Francisco and  LA

Deciding between San Francisco and Los Angeles can be tricky. They have a lot in common – countless things to do, being close to the Pacific Ocean, and they each welcome millions of tourists each year. 

But they also have very different vibes and paces of life. San Francisco is more chill, walkable and relaxed, with many outdoor exploration activities nearby. It’s perfect for ‘nature nuts’ who want to walk through harbours, go on hikes, and admire mountains.

Los Angeles is lively, has a more business-focused California feel, and has more live entertainment, amusement parks and beaches where you can swim and sunbathe.

Whether you’re planning a vacation or considering a move to either city, both are excellent options. Ultimately, it comes down to what you prefer and which city feels more like home to you.