City comparison
No. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington.
Safety is where San Antonio and Arlington split most clearly. Arlington scores 80 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,470 in Arlington.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Arlington wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Arlington has rougher pockets and San Antonio has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Arlington are 243 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $146 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $75,171 in Arlington, up $10,115 (16%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 132 in Arlington, down 80 points (38%).
The move
Arlington and San Antonio are 243 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $146 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $10,115 (13%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 212 in San Antonio, up 80 points (61%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 10% cheaper than Arlington
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Arlington
$1,470/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,470 in Arlington, so San Antonio is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,752, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. San Antonio still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Arlington.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Arlington's median income is 16% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Arlington
Winner$75,171
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Arlington (about $10,115 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, Arlington 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
38% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 38% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in Arlington. 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, Arlington 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
San Antonio and Arlington are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Arlington
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Arlington sits near 67°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
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 10% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Arlington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($75,171). Start with Arlington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than San Antonio (132 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
San Antonio carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 52/100 in Arlington). That 15-point spread matters more than the $146 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Arlington's $1,470, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,470 in Arlington.
Pick Arlington when you want the stronger safety signal (52/100). Otherwise, San Antonio's case rests on a San Antonio ZIP you trust at $1,324 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Arlington?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Arlington when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Arlington, plus other cities in TX.
