City comparison
No. Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 189 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
The income gap between San Antonio and Long Beach is significant: $65,056 median household versus $87,430. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,871 in Long Beach.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Long Beach 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 Long Beach are 1,195 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $547 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $22,374 (34%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 187 in Long Beach, down 25 points (12%).
The move
Long Beach and San Antonio are 1,195 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $547 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $22,374 (26%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 212 in San Antonio, up 25 points (13%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
29% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 29% cheaper than Long Beach
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so San Antonio is 29% cheaper. That's roughly $547/month back in your pocket ($6,564/year). Over five years that's $32,820 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 Long Beach, 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 Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
34% higher
Long Beach's median income is 34% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Long Beach (about $22,374 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, Long Beach 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
12% lower crime
Long Beach's crime index is 12% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
Winner187 (100 = avg)
Long Beach's crime index is 187 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in Long Beach. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Long Beach, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in San Antonio. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Antonio and Long Beach are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach
76°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Long Beach averages about 76°F (81°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach sits near 76°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 29% 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
Long Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 34% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Long Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 12% lower than San Antonio (187 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
Rent is the clearest fork: San Antonio at $1,324/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach ($547 apart). Long Beach median income is $87,430 against $65,056 in San Antonio, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 37/100 in San Antonio and 41/100 in Long Beach.
San Antonio clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Long Beach deserves a serious look only when your $87,430 income offer in Long Beach outweighs saving $547/month in San Antonio.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Long Beach, plus other cities in TX and CA.
