City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where San Antonio and Garland split most clearly. Garland 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 $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Garland 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 Garland are 265 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $317 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $76,320 in Garland, up $11,264 (17%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 87 in Garland, down 125 points (59%).
The move
Garland and San Antonio are 265 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $317 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $11,264 (15%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 212 in San Antonio, up 125 points (144%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 19% cheaper than Garland
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,641 in Garland, so San Antonio 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 $3,804, 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 Garland.
Planning to buy in Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Garland's median income is 17% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Garland (about $11,264 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, Garland 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
59% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 59% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Garland. 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, Garland 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 Garland are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland sits near 66°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 19% 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
Garland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($76,320). Start with Garland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Garland 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Garland leads on safety (64/100 vs 37/100 in San Antonio). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,324 in San Antonio; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Garland still pays more locally ($76,320 median income vs $65,056), which can offset the lease if your field pays Garland rates.
Median income is $76,320 in Garland versus $65,056 in San Antonio.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Garland; 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 Garland, plus other cities in TX.
