City comparison
No. Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 35 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data for San Antonio and 2024 FBI data for Cape Coral.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,858 in Cape Coral.
Safety is where San Antonio and Cape Coral split most clearly. Cape Coral scores 166 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 $1,858 in Cape Coral.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Cape Coral 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 Cape Coral are 1,028 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,858 a month in Cape Coral, up $534 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $78,104 in Cape Coral, up $13,048 (20%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 46 in Cape Coral, down 166 points (78%).
The move
Cape Coral and San Antonio are 1,028 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,858 a month in Cape Coral to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $534 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $78,104 in Cape Coral to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $13,048 (17%).
The crime index goes from 46 in Cape Coral to 212 in San Antonio, up 166 points (361%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cape Coral, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 29% cheaper than Cape Coral
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Cape Coral
$1,858/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,858 in Cape Coral, so San Antonio is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $534/month back in your pocket ($6,408/year). Over five years that's $32,040 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 Cape Coral, 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 Cape Coral? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
Cape Coral's median income is 20% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Cape Coral
Winner$78,104
Median household income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 20% higher in Cape Coral (about $13,048 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, Cape Coral 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
78% lower crime
Cape Coral's crime index is 78% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral
Winner46 (100 = avg)
Cape Coral's crime index is 46 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% lower in Cape Coral. 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, Cape Coral 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 Cape Coral are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cape Coral
73°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Cape Coral averages about 73°F (79°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cape Coral 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 29% 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
Cape Coral is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 20% higher here ($78,104). Start with Cape Coral if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Cape Coral is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 78% lower than San Antonio (46 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
Safety is the widest gap: Cape Coral scores 84/100 versus 37/100 in San Antonio. Rent is $1,858/month in Cape Coral and $1,324/month in San Antonio, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Cape Coral still pays more locally ($78,104 median income vs $65,056), which can offset the lease if your field pays Cape Coral rates.
Median income is $78,104 in Cape Coral versus $65,056 in San Antonio.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Cape Coral; San Antonio only makes sense when you have walked the San Antonio ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,324 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Cape Coral, plus other cities in TX and FL.
