City comparison
Yes. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,331 in Baltimore.
Safety is where San Antonio and Baltimore split most clearly. San Antonio scores 126 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 $1,331 in Baltimore.
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. Baltimore 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.
The crime gap is citywide. San Antonio has rougher pockets and Baltimore has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Baltimore are 1,417 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, up $7 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $2,879 (4%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 338 in Baltimore, up 126 points (59%).
The move
Baltimore and San Antonio are 1,417 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $7 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $2,879 (5%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 212 in San Antonio, down 126 points (37%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Baltimore, MD
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Baltimore? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 1% cheaper than Baltimore
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Baltimore
$1,331/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,331 in Baltimore, so San Antonio is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $7, or $84 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 Baltimore
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
Baltimore
$62,177
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 5% higher in San Antonio (about $2,879 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
37% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 37% lower than Baltimore
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% 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. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 16% more comfortable than Baltimore
San Antonio
Winner75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore
60°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 86/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Baltimore averages about 60°F (67°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Baltimore averages around 60°F. San Antonio scores 16% 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 Baltimore if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 1% 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 37% lower than Baltimore (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Baltimore
On these five categories San Antonio takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Baltimore because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Baltimore 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.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward San Antonio: San Antonio scores 37/100 versus 23/100 in Baltimore, with matched rent near $1,324/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Baltimore before trading 14 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $62,177 in Baltimore — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Pick San Antonio when you want the stronger safety signal (37/100). Otherwise, Baltimore's case rests on a Baltimore ZIP you trust at $1,331 rent.
Weather averages land near 75°F in San Antonio and 60°F in Baltimore.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Baltimore, plus other cities in TX and MD.
