City comparison
No. Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 155 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,465 in Jacksonville.
Safety is where San Antonio and Jacksonville split most clearly. Jacksonville scores 62 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 $1,465 in Jacksonville.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Jacksonville 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 crime gap is citywide. Jacksonville has rougher pockets and San Antonio has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Jacksonville are 1,010 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, up $141 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $69,872 in Jacksonville, up $4,816 (7%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 150 in Jacksonville, down 62 points (29%).
The move
Jacksonville and San Antonio are 1,010 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $141 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $4,816 (7%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 212 in San Antonio, up 62 points (41%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Jacksonville, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 10% cheaper than Jacksonville
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Jacksonville
$1,465/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,465 in Jacksonville, so San Antonio is 10% 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 $1,692, 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 Jacksonville.
Planning to buy in Jacksonville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Jacksonville's median income is 7% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Jacksonville
Winner$69,872
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Jacksonville (about $4,816 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
29% lower crime
Jacksonville's crime index is 29% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville
Winner150 (100 = avg)
Jacksonville's crime index is 150 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% lower in Jacksonville. 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, Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville
79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Jacksonville sits near 79°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 10% 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
Jacksonville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($69,872). Start with Jacksonville if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than San Antonio (150 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: Jacksonville scores 48/100 versus 37/100 in San Antonio. Rent is $1,465/month in Jacksonville and $1,324/month in San Antonio, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
With only $141 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $69,872 in Jacksonville versus $65,056 in San Antonio.
Between San Antonio and Jacksonville, Jacksonville is ahead on safety — 48/100 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 Jacksonville when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Jacksonville, plus other cities in TX and FL.
