City comparison
No. Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 193 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
The income gap between San Antonio and Atlanta is significant: $65,056 median household versus $85,652. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,711 in Atlanta.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Atlanta 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 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
San Antonio and Atlanta are 881 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $387 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $20,596 (32%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 197 in Atlanta, down 15 points (7%).
The move
Atlanta and San Antonio are 881 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $387 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $20,596 (24%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 212 in San Antonio, up 15 points (8%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 23% cheaper than Atlanta
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so San Antonio is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $387/month back in your pocket ($4,644/year). Over five years that's $23,220 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 Atlanta, 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 Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
32% higher
Atlanta's median income is 32% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Atlanta (about $20,596 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, Atlanta 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
7% lower crime
Atlanta's crime index is 7% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Atlanta
Winner197 (100 = avg)
Atlanta's crime index is 197 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Atlanta. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Atlanta, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in San Antonio. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Antonio and Atlanta are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Atlanta averages about 68°F (76°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Atlanta sits near 68°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 23% 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
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 32% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Atlanta is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 7% lower than San Antonio (197 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
On rent alone, San Antonio undercuts Atlanta by $387/month ($1,324 vs $1,711). I would not pick Atlanta on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Atlanta's $1,711, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 37/100 in San Antonio and 39/100 in Atlanta.
San Antonio is the default on housing cost at $1,324/month versus $1,711 in Atlanta; Atlanta stays in play when $85,652 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $387 lease gap.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Atlanta when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Atlanta, plus other cities in TX and GA.
