City comparison
San Antonio is safer than Minneapolis. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Safety is where San Antonio and Minneapolis split most clearly. San Antonio scores 91 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 $1,371 in Minneapolis.
San Antonio is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Minneapolis 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 crime gap is citywide. San Antonio has rougher pockets and Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Minneapolis are 1,112 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, up $47 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $15,790 (24%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 303 in Minneapolis, up 91 points (43%).
The move
Minneapolis and San Antonio are 1,112 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $47 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $15,790 (20%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 212 in San Antonio, down 91 points (30%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Minneapolis, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 3% cheaper than Minneapolis
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Minneapolis
$1,371/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,371 in Minneapolis, so San Antonio is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $47, or $564 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 San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 24% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Minneapolis (about $15,790 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, Minneapolis 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
30% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 30% lower than Minneapolis
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% 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. Minneapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 25% more comfortable than Minneapolis
San Antonio
Winner74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Minneapolis
58°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 80/100
San Antonio averages about 74°F (82°F highs); Minneapolis averages about 58°F (65°F highs). San Antonio sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Minneapolis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Antonio scores 25% 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 Minneapolis 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
San Antonio is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% 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.
Pick San Antonio if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (74°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 25%. Minneapolis 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 30% lower than Minneapolis (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
Minneapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($80,846). Start with Minneapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward San Antonio: San Antonio scores 37/100 versus 26/100 in Minneapolis, with typical rent at $1,324 versus $1,371. I would vet the exact ZIP in Minneapolis before trading 11 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (37/100 in San Antonio vs 26/100 in Minneapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $65,056 in San Antonio.
If safety drives your move, San Antonio is the stronger match (37/100 safety versus 26/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Minneapolis, treat $1,371/month rent and $80,846 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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