City comparison
No. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
The income gap between San Antonio and Boston is significant: $65,056 median household versus $97,344. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $2,147 in Boston.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. San Antonio costs less and Boston pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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 Boston are 1,765 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $823 a month (62%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $97,344 in Boston, up $32,288 (50%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 147 in Boston, down 65 points (31%).
The move
Boston and San Antonio are 1,765 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $823 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $32,288 (33%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 212 in San Antonio, up 65 points (44%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Boston, MA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Boston? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 38% cheaper than Boston
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Boston
$2,147/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $2,147 in Boston, so San Antonio is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $823/month back in your pocket ($9,876/year). Over five years that's $49,380 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 Boston, 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 San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
50% higher
Boston's median income is 50% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Boston
Winner$97,344
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 50% higher in Boston (about $32,288 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, Boston 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
31% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 31% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Boston. 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, Boston 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
39% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 39% more comfortable than Boston
San Antonio
Winner75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Boston averages about 55°F (61°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boston averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Antonio scores 39% 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 Boston if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
San Antonio is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 38% 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.
Pick San Antonio if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Boston on this page's weather index by 39%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but San Antonio is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 50% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than San Antonio (147 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 Boston by $823/month ($1,324 vs $2,147). I would not pick Boston on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Boston's $2,147, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 75°F in San Antonio and 55°F in Boston.
Between San Antonio and Boston, San Antonio is ahead on housing cost — $1,324/month rent against $2,147. Lean Boston instead when your $97,344 income offer in Boston outweighs saving $823/month in San Antonio.
Common questions
Ready to move to San Antonio?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for San Antonio when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Boston, plus other cities in TX and MA.
