Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172
San Antonio
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
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.
Columbia, MO
Pros
42% less violent crime than San Antonio
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.0%)
Rent averages $192/mo less ($997 vs $1,189)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($198,000 vs $248,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
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 4.0%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$862
$60,455 vs $59,593/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
42% lower
347.5 vs 594.1 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$51k less
$198,000 vs $248,600
San Antonio
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,189 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 12 and San Antonio wins 11. 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 Columbia to San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $198,000 median home), income ($60,455 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and San Antonio, TX are about 744 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.