City comparison
Yes. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
The income gap between San Antonio and Portland is significant: $65,056 median household versus $90,919. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,655 in Portland.
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. Portland 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. 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 Portland are 1,719 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $331 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $90,919 in Portland, up $25,863 (40%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 265 in Portland, up 53 points (25%).
The move
Portland and San Antonio are 1,719 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $331 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $25,863 (28%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 212 in San Antonio, down 53 points (20%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Portland, OR
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Portland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 20% cheaper than Portland
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Portland
$1,655/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,655 in Portland, so San Antonio 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 $3,972, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. San Antonio still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Portland.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
40% higher
Portland's median income is 40% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Portland
Winner$90,919
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 40% higher in Portland (about $25,863 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, Portland 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
20% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 20% lower than Portland
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 265 in Portland (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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 28% more comfortable than Portland
San Antonio
Winner75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland
57°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 78/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Portland averages about 57°F (64°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Portland averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Antonio scores 28% 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 Portland 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 20% 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 (75°F) beat Portland on this page's weather index by 28%. Portland 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 20% lower than Portland (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
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 40% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,324/month rent in San Antonio at 75°F versus $1,655 in Portland at 57°F. Income runs $65,056 vs $90,919, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Portland's $1,655, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,655 in Portland.
San Antonio wins on climate (75°F vs 57°F); Portland is the better fit if $1,655 rent and $90,919 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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