City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
The income gap between San Antonio and Durham is significant: $65,056 median household versus $81,619. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,508 in Durham.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. San Antonio costs less and Durham 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
San Antonio and Durham are 1,223 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $184 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $81,619 in Durham, up $16,563 (25%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 193 in Durham, down 19 points (9%).
The move
Durham and San Antonio are 1,223 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $184 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $16,563 (20%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 212 in San Antonio, up 19 points (10%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 12% cheaper than Durham
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,508 in Durham, so San Antonio is 12% 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 $2,208, 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 Durham.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Durham's median income is 25% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Durham (about $16,563 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, Durham 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
9% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 9% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Durham. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Durham, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in San Antonio. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Antonio scores 20% 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 Durham 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 12% 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 (72°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham 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
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 25% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than San Antonio (193 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Durham at $81,619 median income versus $65,056 in San Antonio. Housing ($1,324 in San Antonio, $1,508 in Durham) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
With only $184 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,508 in Durham.
Pick Durham when your field pays toward $81,619 median income. Otherwise, San Antonio's case rests on a $1,324 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Durham, plus other cities in TX and NC.
