City comparison
Yes. San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 164 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio.
Safety is where San Antonio and St Louis split most clearly. San Antonio scores 140 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 $997 in St Louis.
San Antonio is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis 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. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Antonio and St Louis are 793 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $997 a month in St Louis, down $327 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $56,160 in St Louis, down $8,896 (14%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 352 in St Louis, up 140 points (66%).
The move
St Louis and San Antonio are 793 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, up $327 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $8,896 (16%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 212 in San Antonio, down 140 points (40%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
St Louis rent is 25% cheaper than San Antonio
San Antonio
$1,324/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so St Louis is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $327/month back in your pocket ($3,924/year). Over five years that's $19,620 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 San Antonio, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in San Antonio? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
San Antonio's median income is 16% higher than St Louis
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 16% higher in San Antonio (about $8,896 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, San Antonio is the stronger labor market on paper. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
40% lower crime
San Antonio's crime index is 40% lower than St Louis
San Antonio
Winner212 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
San Antonio's crime index is 212 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Antonio scores 25% 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 St Louis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 16% higher ($65,056), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 40% lower than St Louis (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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward San Antonio: San Antonio scores 37/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis, with typical rent at $1,324 versus $997. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Louis before trading 15 safety points for housing savings.
San Antonio still pays more locally ($65,056 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Antonio rates.
Weather averages land near 72°F in San Antonio and 58°F in St Louis.
Pick San Antonio when you want the stronger safety signal (37/100). Otherwise, St Louis's case rests on a St Louis ZIP you trust at $997 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to San Antonio?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for San Antonio when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and St Louis, plus other cities in TX and MO.
