City comparison
No. Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 114 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Lincoln is cheaper. Median rent is $1,086 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio.
Safety is where San Antonio and Lincoln split most clearly. Lincoln scores 88 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 $1,086 in Lincoln.
Lincoln is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. San Antonio makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Lincoln is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Lincoln at $1,086 average has pockets that run $886 and others at $1,486: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Antonio and Lincoln are 793 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, down $238 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $6,811 (10%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 124 in Lincoln, down 88 points (42%).
The move
Lincoln and San Antonio are 793 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, up $238 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $6,811 (9%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 212 in San Antonio, up 88 points (71%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lincoln, NE
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Lincoln rent is 18% cheaper than San Antonio
San Antonio
$1,324/mo
Lincoln
Winner$1,086/mo
Typical rent runs $1,086 a month in Lincoln versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so Lincoln 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 $2,856, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Lincoln still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Antonio.
Planning to buy in Lincoln? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Lincoln's median income is 10% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Lincoln (about $6,811 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
42% lower crime
Lincoln's crime index is 42% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Lincoln
Winner124 (100 = avg)
Lincoln's crime index is 124 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% lower in Lincoln. 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, Lincoln 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
39% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lincoln averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Antonio scores 39% 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 Lincoln 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 (72°F) beat Lincoln on this page's weather index by 39%. Lincoln may pay more or cost less, but San Antonio is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Lincoln is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,086 a month. Choose Lincoln if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Lincoln is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($71,867). Start with Lincoln if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Lincoln is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than San Antonio (124 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
San Antonio carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 53/100 in Lincoln). That 16-point spread matters more than the $238 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (53/100 in Lincoln vs 37/100 in San Antonio), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,086 in Lincoln and $1,324 in San Antonio.
Lincoln clears the bar on safety in this dataset. San Antonio deserves a serious look only 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
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Lincoln, plus other cities in TX and NE.
