City comparison
No. Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 225 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Winston Salem is cheaper. Median rent is $1,087 a month versus $1,324 in San Antonio.
Climate is the sharpest divide between San Antonio and Winston Salem. San Antonio averages 72°F while Winston Salem averages 56°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,324 versus $1,087.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Winston Salem costs less and San Antonio 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. Winston Salem at $1,087 average has pockets that run $887 and others at $1,487: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Antonio and Winston Salem are 1,154 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,087 a month in Winston Salem, down $237 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $59,268 in Winston Salem, down $5,788 (9%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 203 in Winston Salem, down 9 points (4%).
The move
Winston Salem and San Antonio are 1,154 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,087 a month in Winston Salem to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, up $237 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $59,268 in Winston Salem to $65,056 in San Antonio, up $5,788 (10%).
The crime index goes from 203 in Winston Salem to 212 in San Antonio, up 9 points (4%).
San Antonio, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Winston Salem, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing San Antonio and Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Winston Salem rent is 18% cheaper than San Antonio
San Antonio
$1,324/mo
Winston Salem
Winner$1,087/mo
Typical rent runs $1,087 a month in Winston Salem versus $1,324 in San Antonio, so Winston Salem is 18% 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 $2,844, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Winston Salem still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in San Antonio.
Planning to buy in Winston Salem? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
San Antonio's median income is 10% higher than Winston Salem
San Antonio
Winner$65,056
Winston Salem
$59,268
Median household income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $59,268 in Winston Salem, so typical pay runs 10% higher in San Antonio (about $5,788 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
4% lower crime
Winston Salem's crime index is 4% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem
Winner203 (100 = avg)
Winston Salem's crime index is 203 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Winston Salem. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Winston Salem, 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
33% more comfortable
San Antonio weather is 33% more comfortable than Winston Salem
San Antonio
Winner72°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Winston Salem
56°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 75/100
San Antonio averages about 72°F (82°F highs); Winston Salem averages about 56°F (66°F highs). San Antonio sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Winston Salem averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. San Antonio scores 33% 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 Winston Salem 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 10% 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.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Winston Salem is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,087 a month. Choose Winston Salem if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Winston Salem is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% lower than San Antonio (203 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
San Antonio runs 72°F typical weather against 56°F in Winston Salem (comfort scores 100 vs 75). Housing is $1,324/month versus $1,087/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
San Antonio still pays more locally ($65,056 median income vs $59,268), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Antonio rates.
Median income is $65,056 in San Antonio versus $59,268 in Winston Salem.
If climate drives your move, Winston Salem is the stronger match (56°F typical weather versus 72°F). If an employer or family tie already points to San Antonio, treat $1,324/month rent and $65,056 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Winston Salem?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Winston Salem when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Winston Salem, plus other cities in TX and NC.
