City comparison
Yes. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Kansas City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,238 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio.
Safety is where San Antonio and Kansas City split most clearly. San Antonio scores 131 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 $1,238 in Kansas City.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Kansas City is the easier city on typical rent, but San Antonio can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. San Antonio has rougher pockets and Kansas City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Kansas City are 705 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, down $86 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $69,166 in Kansas City, up $4,110 (6%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 343 in Kansas City, up 131 points (62%).
The move
Kansas City and San Antonio are 705 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, up $86 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $4,110 (6%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 212 in San Antonio, down 131 points (38%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Kansas City, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Kansas City rent is 6% cheaper than San Antonio
San Antonio
$1,324/mo
Kansas City
Winner$1,238/mo
Typical rent runs $1,238 a month in Kansas City versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so Kansas City is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $86, or $1,032 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Kansas City's median income is 6% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Kansas City
Winner$69,166
Median household income is $69,166 in Kansas City versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Kansas City (about $4,110 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
38% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 38% lower than Kansas City
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in San Antonio. 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, San Antonio is the easier city. Kansas City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 6% more comfortable than Kansas City
San Antonio
Winner75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Kansas City
63°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 94/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Kansas City averages about 63°F (71°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Kansas City averages around 63°F. San Antonio scores 6% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Kansas City if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick San Antonio if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Kansas City on this page's weather index by 6%. Kansas City may pay more or cost less, but San Antonio is the city where the forecast fights you less.
San Antonio is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Kansas City (212 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Kansas City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,238 a month. Choose Kansas City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Kansas City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($69,166). Start with Kansas City if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: San Antonio scores 37/100 versus 23/100 in Kansas City. Rent is $1,324/month in San Antonio and $1,238/month in Kansas City, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (37/100 in San Antonio vs 23/100 in Kansas City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $69,166 in Kansas City versus $65,056 in San Antonio.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in San Antonio; Kansas City only makes sense when you have walked the Kansas City ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,238 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Kansas City when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Kansas City, plus other cities in TX and MO.
