City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where San Antonio and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 113 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 $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Irving 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 Irving are 251 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $295 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $81,830 in Irving, up $16,774 (26%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 99 in Irving, down 113 points (53%).
The move
Irving and San Antonio are 251 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $295 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $16,774 (20%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 212 in San Antonio, up 113 points (114%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 18% cheaper than Irving
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,619 in Irving, so San Antonio is 18% 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 $3,540, 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 Irving.
Planning to buy in Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
26% higher
Irving's median income is 26% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Irving (about $16,774 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, Irving 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
53% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 53% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in Irving. 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, Irving 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 Irving are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Irving averages about 67°F (74°F highs). San Antonio sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving sits near 67°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 18% 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
Irving is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($81,830). Start with Irving if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than San Antonio (99 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: Irving scores 60/100 versus 37/100 in San Antonio. Rent is $1,619/month in Irving and $1,324/month in San Antonio, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Irving's $1,619, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,619 in Irving.
Between San Antonio and Irving, Irving is ahead on safety — 60/100 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
Quotes and listings for Irving when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Irving, plus other cities in TX.
