City comparison
No. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia and San Antonio are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,324 in San Antonio, and median household income lands at $61,953 versus $65,056. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
San Antonio is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone San Antonio is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Philadelphia and San Antonio are 1,505 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $73 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $3,103 (5%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 212 in San Antonio, down 49 points (19%).
The move
San Antonio and Philadelphia are 1,505 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $73 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $3,103 (5%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 261 in Philadelphia, up 49 points (23%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 5% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so San Antonio is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $73, or $876 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
5% higher
San Antonio's median income is 5% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 5% higher in San Antonio (about $3,103 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
19% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 19% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 19% lower in San Antonio. 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, San Antonio is the easier city. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
San Antonio
Winner75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs). Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Philadelphia
On these five categories San Antonio takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Philadelphia because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Philadelphia only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
San Antonio is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 5% higher ($65,056), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 75°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
San Antonio is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 19% lower than Philadelphia (212 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.
Bottom line
Philadelphia carries the heavier crime signal on this page (31/100 safety vs 37/100 in San Antonio). That 6-point spread matters more than the $73 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
With only $73 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
If safety drives your move, San Antonio is the stronger match (37/100 safety versus 31/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Philadelphia, treat $1,397/month rent and $61,953 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and San Antonio, plus other cities in PA and TX.
