City comparison
Yes. Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 139 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
Safety is where Chicago and San Antonio split most clearly. Chicago scores 45 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,440 in Chicago and $1,324 in San Antonio.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. San Antonio costs less and Chicago pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Chicago has rougher pockets and San Antonio has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Chicago and San Antonio are 1,051 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $116 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $12,846 (16%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 212 in San Antonio, up 45 points (27%).
The move
San Antonio and Chicago are 1,051 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $116 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $77,902 in Chicago, up $12,846 (20%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 167 in Chicago, down 45 points (21%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 8% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,440 in Chicago, so San Antonio is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $116, or $1,392 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Chicago's median income is 20% higher than San Antonio
Chicago
Winner$77,902
San Antonio
$65,056
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Chicago (about $12,846 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Chicago is the stronger labor market on paper. San Antonio can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Chicago's crime index is 21% lower than San Antonio
Chicago
Winner167 (100 = avg)
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Chicago's crime index is 167 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Chicago. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Chicago is the easier city. San Antonio can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 20% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
59°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 83/100
San Antonio
Winner75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 59°F (65°F highs); San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs). Chicago averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. San Antonio scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Chicago if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Chicago is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than San Antonio (167 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
San Antonio is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,324 a month. Choose San Antonio if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick San Antonio if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Chicago on this page's weather index by 20%. Chicago may pay more or cost less, but San Antonio is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
On weather alone, San Antonio is the warmer market (75°F) and Chicago the cooler (59°F). Typical leases run $1,324 and $1,440; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Chicago's $1,440, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $65,056 in San Antonio.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in San Antonio; Chicago only makes sense when 59°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and San Antonio, plus other cities in IL and TX.
