City comparison
Yes. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio.
Climate is the sharpest divide between San Antonio and Milwaukee. San Antonio averages 75°F while Milwaukee averages 56°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,324 versus $1,059.
San Antonio is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Milwaukee makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone San Antonio is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Milwaukee at $1,059 average has pockets that run $859 and others at $1,459: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Antonio and Milwaukee are 1,108 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $265 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $10,822 (17%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 266 in Milwaukee, up 54 points (25%).
The move
Milwaukee and San Antonio are 1,108 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, up $265 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $10,822 (20%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 212 in San Antonio, down 54 points (20%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 20% cheaper than San Antonio
San Antonio
$1,324/mo
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so Milwaukee is 20% 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 $3,180, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Milwaukee 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 San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
20% higher
San Antonio's median income is 20% higher than Milwaukee
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
Milwaukee
$54,234
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 20% higher in San Antonio (about $10,822 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, San Antonio is the stronger labor market on paper. Milwaukee can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
20% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 20% lower than Milwaukee
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% 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. Milwaukee can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 33% more comfortable than Milwaukee
San Antonio
Winner75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee
56°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 75/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Milwaukee averages about 56°F (61°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Milwaukee averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Antonio 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 Milwaukee if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 20% higher ($65,056), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 75°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 20% lower than Milwaukee (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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,059 a month. Choose Milwaukee if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Milwaukee (56°F) and San Antonio (75°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 19°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,059 vs $1,324) and pay ($54,234 vs $65,056) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
San Antonio still pays more locally ($65,056 median income vs $54,234), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Antonio rates.
Safety scores read 37/100 in San Antonio and 30/100 in Milwaukee.
If climate drives your move, Milwaukee is the stronger match (56°F typical weather versus 75°F). If an employer or family tie already points to San Antonio, treat $1,324/month rent and $65,056 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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