Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 Austin leads 13 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202
San Antonio
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $26,963 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than San Antonio
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $264k less ($198,000 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $360/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,549)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $26,963/yr
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$26,963
$86,556 vs $59,593/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
21% lower
466.9 vs 594.1 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Antonio
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$264k less
$198,000 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 13 of 23 categories. Austin wins 13 and San Antonio wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Austin to San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $198,000 median home), income ($86,556 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and San Antonio, TX are about 74 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.