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City comparison

San Antonio, TX vs Memphis, TN

Climate is the sharpest divide between San Antonio and Memphis. San Antonio averages 90°F while Memphis averages 87°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,426 versus $1,274.

Memphis is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather 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 Memphis is the stronger move.

The crime gap is citywide. Memphis has rougher pockets and San Antonio has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.

Full San Antonio reportFull Memphis report

San Antonio, TX

Rent
1,426/mo
Median income
59,593
Crime index
215
Schools
A-
Weather
90°F

Memphis, TN

Rent
1,274/mo
Median income
59,621
Crime index
150
Schools
A-
Weather
87°F

Rent

11% cheaper

Memphis rent is 11% cheaper than San Antonio

San Antonio

$1,426/mo

Memphis

Winner

$1,274/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,274 a month in Memphis versus $1,426 in San Antonio, so Memphis is 11% 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 $1,824, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Memphis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Antonio.

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Median income

1% higher

Memphis's median income is 1% higher than San Antonio

San Antonio

$59,593

Memphis

Winner

$59,621

What this means for your life

Median household income is $59,621 in Memphis versus $59,593 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Memphis (about $28 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

30% lower crime

Memphis's crime index is 30% lower than San Antonio

San Antonio

215 (100 = avg)

Memphis

Winner

150 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Memphis's crime index is 150 versus 215 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% lower in Memphis. 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, Memphis is the easier city. San Antonio can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

San Antonio and Memphis are about even on school scores.

San Antonio

A- · 84/100

Memphis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in San Antonio, A- in Memphis). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better. At this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

33% more comfortable

Memphis weather is 33% more comfortable than San Antonio

San Antonio

90°F avg · 103°F highs · comfort 46/100

Memphis

Winner

87°F avg · 99°F highs · comfort 61/100

What this means for your life

San Antonio averages about 90°F (103°F highs); Memphis averages about 87°F (99°F highs). San Antonio often hits 103°F highs, so expect heavy AC use and limited outdoor time in summer. Memphis runs very hot summers (highs near 99°F), which means indoor living for large stretches of the year. Memphis scores 33% 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 San Antonio if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.

Fit check

Who should choose San Antonio

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to San Antonio

On these five categories Memphis takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose San Antonio because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose San Antonio only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.

Open the San Antonio report →

Fit check

Who should choose Memphis

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,274 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 1% higher ($59,621), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 87°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Memphis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 30% 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.

Open the Memphis report →

Bottom line

San Antonio vs Memphis: Our Take

Memphis wins overall on this comparison, taking 4 of the 5 categories against 0 for San Antonio.

Memphis's typical rent runs 11% lower than San Antonio ($1,274/month vs $1,426/month), which is real money over a lease.

Memphis's median household income is 1% higher ($59,621 vs $59,593), which can offset housing cost for higher earners.

Unless a specific job offer or family network locks you into San Antonio, Memphis is the stronger overall choice on this data.

Common questions

San Antonio vs Memphis FAQ

Is San Antonio cheaper than Memphis?
No. Memphis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,274 a month versus $1,426 in San Antonio (11% lower). Median household income is $59,593 in San Antonio compared with $59,621 in Memphis, so Memphis has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, San Antonio or Memphis?
Memphis is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 150 versus 215 in San Antonio (30% lower; 100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, San Antonio or Memphis?
School composites are close: A- in San Antonio and A- in Memphis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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