City comparison
No. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,556 in Reno.
Safety is where San Antonio and Reno split most clearly. Reno scores 61 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 $1,556 in Reno.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. San Antonio costs less and Reno 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 crime gap is citywide. Reno has rougher pockets and San Antonio has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Reno are 1,395 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,556 a month in Reno, up $232 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $80,760 in Reno, up $15,704 (24%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 151 in Reno, down 61 points (29%).
The move
Reno and San Antonio are 1,395 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $232 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $15,704 (19%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 212 in San Antonio, up 61 points (40%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 15% cheaper than Reno
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Reno
$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,556 in Reno, so San Antonio is 15% 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 $2,784, 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 Reno.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Reno's median income is 24% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Reno
Winner$80,760
Median household income is $80,760 in Reno versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Reno (about $15,704 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, Reno 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
29% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 29% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 29% lower in Reno. 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, Reno 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
9% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 9% more comfortable than Reno
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Reno averages around 62°F. San Antonio scores 9% 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 Reno 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 15% 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 Reno on this page's weather index by 9%. Reno 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
Reno is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($80,760). Start with Reno if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Reno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 29% lower than San Antonio (151 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Reno: Reno scores 47/100 versus 37/100 in San Antonio, with typical rent at $1,556 versus $1,324. I would vet the exact ZIP in San Antonio before trading 10 safety points for housing savings.
San Antonio rent at $1,324/month is still below Reno's $1,556, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,556 in Reno.
Reno 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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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Reno, plus other cities in TX and NV.
