City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Safety is where San Antonio and Bakersfield split most clearly. Bakersfield scores 64 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 $1,472 in Bakersfield.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Bakersfield 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. Bakersfield has rougher pockets and San Antonio has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Bakersfield are 1,263 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $148 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $15,484 (24%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 148 in Bakersfield, down 64 points (30%).
The move
Bakersfield and San Antonio are 1,263 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $148 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $15,484 (19%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 212 in San Antonio, up 64 points (43%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 10% cheaper than Bakersfield
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, 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 $1,776, 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 Bakersfield.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 24% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Bakersfield (about $15,484 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, Bakersfield 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
30% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 30% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in Bakersfield. 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, Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Bakersfield sits near 73°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
Bakersfield is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($80,540). Start with Bakersfield if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% lower than San Antonio (148 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Bakersfield: Bakersfield scores 48/100 versus 37/100 in San Antonio, with typical rent at $1,472 versus $1,324. I would vet the exact ZIP in San Antonio before trading 11 safety points for housing savings.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Bakersfield's $1,472, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
If safety drives your move, Bakersfield is the stronger match (48/100 safety versus 37/100). If an employer or family tie already points to San Antonio, treat $1,324/month rent and $65,056 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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