City comparison
No. Fresno's crime index is 195 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 211 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,421 in Fresno.
San Antonio and Fresno are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,421 in Fresno, and median household income lands at $65,056 versus $70,991. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Fresno 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.
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 Fresno are 1,328 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,421 a month in Fresno, up $97 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $70,991 in Fresno, up $5,935 (9%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 195 in Fresno, down 17 points (8%).
The move
Fresno and San Antonio are 1,328 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $97 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $5,935 (8%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 212 in San Antonio, up 17 points (9%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Fresno, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Fresno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 7% cheaper than Fresno
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Fresno
$1,421/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,421 in Fresno, so San Antonio is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $97, or $1,164 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Fresno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Fresno's median income is 9% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Fresno
Winner$70,991
Median household income is $70,991 in Fresno versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Fresno (about $5,935 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
8% lower crime
Fresno's crime index is 8% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Fresno
Winner195 (100 = avg)
Fresno's crime index is 195 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 8% lower in Fresno. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Fresno, 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
Neck and neck
San Antonio and Fresno are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fresno
73°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Fresno averages about 73°F (83°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Fresno 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 7% 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
Fresno is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($70,991). Start with Fresno if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fresno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 8% lower than San Antonio (195 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Fresno leads on safety (40/100 vs 37/100 in San Antonio). Typical rent is $1,421 in Fresno and $1,324 in San Antonio; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Fresno's $1,421, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,421 in Fresno.
Fresno is ahead on safety (40/100 vs 37/100); San Antonio is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,324/month rent plus $65,056 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Fresno when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Fresno, plus other cities in TX and CA.
