City comparison
No. Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 213 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
The income gap between San Antonio and Sacramento is significant: $65,056 median household versus $87,321. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,779 in Sacramento.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Sacramento 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 Sacramento are 1,456 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $455 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $22,265 (34%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 181 in Sacramento, down 31 points (15%).
The move
Sacramento and San Antonio are 1,456 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $455 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $22,265 (25%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 212 in San Antonio, up 31 points (17%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 26% cheaper than Sacramento
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so San Antonio is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $455/month back in your pocket ($5,460/year). Over five years that's $27,300 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 Sacramento, 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 Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
34% higher
Sacramento's median income is 34% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Sacramento (about $22,265 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, Sacramento 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
15% lower crime
Sacramento's crime index is 15% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Sacramento
Winner181 (100 = avg)
Sacramento's crime index is 181 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Sacramento. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Sacramento, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in San Antonio. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Antonio and Sacramento are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento
69°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Sacramento averages about 69°F (81°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Sacramento 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 26% 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
Sacramento is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 34% higher here ($87,321). Start with Sacramento if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Sacramento is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 15% lower than San Antonio (181 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
Sacramento posts $87,321 median household income against $65,056 in San Antonio. That 25% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,779 in Sacramento.
Sacramento still pays more locally ($87,321 median income vs $65,056), which can offset the lease if your field pays Sacramento rates.
Safety scores read 37/100 in San Antonio and 42/100 in Sacramento.
Sacramento leads on local pay ($87,321 median income vs $65,056), even though rent runs $1,779 versus $1,324 — skip Sacramento only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Sacramento when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Sacramento, plus other cities in TX and CA.
