City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
The income gap between San Antonio and Gilbert is significant: $65,056 median household versus $122,551. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Gilbert 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 Gilbert are 829 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $786 a month (59%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $57,495 (88%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 47 in Gilbert, down 165 points (78%).
The move
Gilbert and San Antonio are 829 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $786 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $57,495 (47%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 212 in San Antonio, up 165 points (351%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 37% cheaper than Gilbert
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so San Antonio is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $786/month back in your pocket ($9,432/year). Over five years that's $47,160 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Gilbert, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, San Antonio is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
88% higher
Gilbert's median income is 88% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 88% higher in Gilbert (about $57,495 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, Gilbert 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
78% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 78% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 78% lower in Gilbert. 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, Gilbert 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 Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert sits near 80°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 37% 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
Gilbert is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 88% higher here ($122,551). Start with Gilbert if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 78% lower than San Antonio (47 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Gilbert: Gilbert scores 83/100 versus 37/100 in San Antonio, with typical rent at $2,110 versus $1,324. I would vet the exact ZIP in San Antonio before trading 46 safety points for housing savings.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,324 in San Antonio and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Pick Gilbert when you want the stronger safety signal (83/100). Otherwise, San Antonio's case rests on a San Antonio ZIP you trust at $1,324 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Gilbert when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Gilbert, plus other cities in TX and AZ.
