City comparison
Yes. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio.
Climate is the sharpest divide between San Antonio and Cleveland. San Antonio averages 72°F while Cleveland averages 53°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,324 versus $1,060.
San Antonio is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cleveland 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Antonio and Cleveland are 1,257 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $264 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $588 (1%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 341 in Cleveland, up 129 points (61%).
The move
Cleveland and San Antonio are 1,257 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, up $264 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $588 (1%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 212 in San Antonio, down 129 points (38%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 20% cheaper than San Antonio
San Antonio
$1,324/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so Cleveland is 20% 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 $3,168, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Cleveland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Antonio.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
San Antonio's median income is 1% higher than Cleveland
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 1% higher in San Antonio (about $588 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
38% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 38% lower than Cleveland
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% 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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 52% more comfortable than Cleveland
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Antonio scores 52% 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 Cleveland 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
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($65,056), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°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 38% lower than Cleveland (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 Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but San Antonio leads on safety (37/100 vs 23/100 in Cleveland). Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,060 in Cleveland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (37/100 in San Antonio vs 23/100 in Cleveland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,060 in Cleveland and $1,324 in San Antonio.
San Antonio is ahead on safety (37/100 vs 23/100); Cleveland is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,060/month rent plus $64,468 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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