City comparison
Yes. Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 202 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
The cost gap between Los Angeles and San Antonio is the real story here. San Antonio comes in 32% cheaper on typical rent ($1,933 vs $1,324), which over a year adds up to $7,308. Median household income runs $81,939 in Los Angeles and $65,056 in San Antonio.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles wins on the job market and safety and San Antonio wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. San Antonio at $1,324 average has pockets that run $1,124 and others at $1,724: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and San Antonio are 1,202 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $609 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $16,883 (21%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 212 in San Antonio, up 54 points (34%).
The move
San Antonio and Los Angeles are 1,202 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $609 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $16,883 (26%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 158 in Los Angeles, down 54 points (25%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 32% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so San Antonio is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $609/month back in your pocket ($7,308/year). Over five years that's $36,540 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Los Angeles, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, San Antonio is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Los Angeles? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 26% higher than San Antonio
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
San Antonio
$65,056
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Los Angeles (about $16,883 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, Los Angeles 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
25% lower crime
Los Angeles's crime index is 25% lower than San Antonio
Los Angeles
Winner158 (100 = avg)
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Los Angeles's crime index is 158 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% lower in Los Angeles. 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, Los Angeles 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
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and San Antonio are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio
75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Los Angeles is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($81,939). Start with Los Angeles if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Los Angeles is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 25% lower than San Antonio (158 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to San Antonio
San Antonio is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% 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.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,324/month in San Antonio versus $1,933 in Los Angeles. Median income reads $65,056 in San Antonio and $81,939 in Los Angeles, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Los Angeles's $1,933, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $65,056 in San Antonio.
Pick San Antonio when shaving $609 off rent at $1,324/month is the priority. Otherwise, Los Angeles's case rests on $1,933/month rent with $81,939 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and San Antonio, plus other cities in CA and TX.
