City comparison
No. Austin's crime index is 162 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 $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between San Antonio and Austin is significant: $65,056 median household versus $93,658. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,729 in Austin.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Austin 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 Austin are 74 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $405 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $93,658 in Austin, up $28,602 (44%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 162 in Austin, down 50 points (24%).
The move
Austin and San Antonio are 74 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $405 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $28,602 (31%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 212 in San Antonio, up 50 points (31%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 23% cheaper than Austin
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Austin
$1,729/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,729 in Austin, so San Antonio is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $405/month back in your pocket ($4,860/year). Over five years that's $24,300 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 Austin, 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 Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
Austin's median income is 44% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Austin
Winner$93,658
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Austin (about $28,602 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, Austin 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
24% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 24% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% lower in Austin. 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, Austin 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 Austin are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin
76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Austin sits near 76°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
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 44% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than San Antonio (162 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Austin at $93,658 median income versus $65,056 in San Antonio. Housing ($1,324 in San Antonio, $1,729 in Austin) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Austin still pays more locally ($93,658 median income vs $65,056), which can offset the lease if your field pays Austin rates.
Safety scores read 37/100 in San Antonio and 45/100 in Austin.
Pick Austin when your field pays toward $93,658 median income. Otherwise, San Antonio's case rests on a $1,324 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
Ready to move to Austin?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Austin, plus other cities in TX.
