City comparison
No. Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 57 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,823 in Honolulu.
Safety is where San Antonio and Honolulu split most clearly. Honolulu scores 132 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 $1,823 in Honolulu.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Honolulu 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 Honolulu are 3,710 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,823 a month in Honolulu, up $499 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $86,504 in Honolulu, up $21,448 (33%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 80 in Honolulu, down 132 points (62%).
The move
Honolulu and San Antonio are 3,710 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,823 a month in Honolulu to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $499 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $86,504 in Honolulu to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $21,448 (25%).
The crime index goes from 80 in Honolulu to 212 in San Antonio, up 132 points (165%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Honolulu, HI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 27% cheaper than Honolulu
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Honolulu
$1,823/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,823 in Honolulu, so San Antonio is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $499/month back in your pocket ($5,988/year). Over five years that's $29,940 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 Honolulu, 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 Honolulu? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
33% higher
Honolulu's median income is 33% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Honolulu
Winner$86,504
Median household income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Honolulu (about $21,448 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, Honolulu 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
62% lower crime
Honolulu's crime index is 62% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Honolulu
Winner80 (100 = avg)
Honolulu's crime index is 80 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% lower in Honolulu. 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, Honolulu 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 Honolulu are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Honolulu
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Honolulu averages about 77°F (82°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Honolulu sits near 77°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 27% 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
Honolulu is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 33% higher here ($86,504). Start with Honolulu if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Honolulu is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 62% lower than San Antonio (80 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 Honolulu leads on safety (67/100 vs 37/100 in San Antonio). Typical rent is $1,823 in Honolulu and $1,324 in San Antonio; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Honolulu still pays more locally ($86,504 median income vs $65,056), which can offset the lease if your field pays Honolulu rates.
Median income is $86,504 in Honolulu versus $65,056 in San Antonio.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Honolulu; 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
Quotes and listings for Honolulu when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Honolulu, plus other cities in TX and HI.
