City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where San Antonio and Raleigh split most clearly. Raleigh scores 70 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 $1,572 in Raleigh.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. San Antonio costs less and Raleigh pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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 Raleigh are 1,233 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $248 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $20,339 (31%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 142 in Raleigh, down 70 points (33%).
The move
Raleigh and San Antonio are 1,233 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $248 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $20,339 (24%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 212 in San Antonio, up 70 points (49%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 16% cheaper than Raleigh
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so San Antonio is 16% 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 $2,976, 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 Raleigh.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
31% higher
Raleigh's median income is 31% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 31% higher in Raleigh (about $20,339 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, Raleigh 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
33% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 33% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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
16% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh averages around 60°F. San Antonio scores 16% 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 Raleigh 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 16% 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 (72°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh may pay more or cost less, but San Antonio is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 31% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than San Antonio (142 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Raleigh leads on safety (49/100 vs 37/100 in San Antonio). Typical rent is $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,324 in San Antonio; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Raleigh is ahead on safety (49/100 vs 37/100); San Antonio is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,324/month rent plus $65,056 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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