City comparison
Yes. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for San Antonio and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio.
Safety is where San Antonio and New Orleans split most clearly. San Antonio scores 138 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 $1,251 in New Orleans.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on the job market and safety and New Orleans wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. San Antonio has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and New Orleans are 507 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $73 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $8,425 (13%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 350 in New Orleans, up 138 points (65%).
The move
New Orleans and San Antonio are 507 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, up $73 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $8,425 (15%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 212 in San Antonio, down 138 points (39%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 6% cheaper than San Antonio
San Antonio
$1,324/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so New Orleans is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $73, or $876 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
15% higher
San Antonio's median income is 15% higher than New Orleans
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 15% higher in San Antonio (about $8,425 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. New Orleans can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
39% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 39% lower than New Orleans
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% 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. New Orleans can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Antonio and New Orleans are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°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. New Orleans sits near 73°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
San Antonio is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($65,056). Start with San Antonio if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 39% lower than New Orleans (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 New Orleans
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,251 a month. Choose New Orleans if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
New Orleans carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 37/100 in San Antonio). That 15-point spread matters more than the $73 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below San Antonio's $1,324, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,324 in San Antonio.
San Antonio clears the bar on safety in this dataset. New Orleans deserves a serious look only when you already know the New Orleans 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 New Orleans, plus other cities in TX and LA.
