City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between San Antonio and Plano is significant: $65,056 median household versus $112,253. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Plano 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 Plano are 270 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $517 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $112,253 in Plano, up $47,197 (73%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 62 in Plano, down 150 points (71%).
The move
Plano and San Antonio are 270 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $517 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $47,197 (42%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 212 in San Antonio, up 150 points (242%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 28% cheaper than Plano
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,841 in Plano, so San Antonio is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $517/month back in your pocket ($6,204/year). Over five years that's $31,020 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 Plano, 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 Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
73% higher
Plano's median income is 73% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 73% higher in Plano (about $47,197 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, Plano 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
71% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 71% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in Plano. 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, Plano is the easier city. San Antonio 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 Plano are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano sits near 69°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 28% 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
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 73% higher here ($112,253). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than San Antonio (62 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
San Antonio carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 75/100 in Plano). That 38-point spread matters more than the $517 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,841 in Plano.
Plano clears the bar on safety in this dataset. San Antonio deserves a serious look only when you already know the San Antonio 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 Plano, plus other cities in TX.
