City comparison
No. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio.
Safety is where San Antonio and El Paso split most clearly. El Paso scores 125 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 $1,073 in El Paso.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on the job market and El Paso wins on cost of living 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. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Antonio and El Paso are 502 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $251 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $59,745 in El Paso, down $5,311 (8%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 87 in El Paso, down 125 points (59%).
The move
El Paso and San Antonio are 502 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, up $251 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $5,311 (9%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 212 in San Antonio, up 125 points (144%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
El Paso, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
El Paso rent is 19% cheaper than San Antonio
San Antonio
$1,324/mo
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so El Paso is 19% 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 $3,012, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. El Paso 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 El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
San Antonio's median income is 9% higher than El Paso
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
El Paso
$59,745
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 9% higher in San Antonio (about $5,311 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
59% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 59% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso 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 El Paso are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso
72°F avg · 79°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); El Paso averages about 72°F (79°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. El Paso sits near 72°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
San Antonio is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($65,056). Start with San Antonio if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than San Antonio (87 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: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 37/100 in San Antonio. Rent is $1,073/month in El Paso and $1,324/month in San Antonio, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
San Antonio still pays more locally ($65,056 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Antonio rates.
Median income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Between San Antonio and El Paso, El Paso is ahead on safety — 64/100 safety versus 37/100. Lean San Antonio instead when you already know the San Antonio block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and El Paso, plus other cities in TX.
