Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio leads 15 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,222
San Antonio
Texas
15
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
6% less violent crime than San Antonio
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Households earn $4,526 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than San Antonio
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($198,000 vs $582,400)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
More college-educated — 27.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $180/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,369)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails East Los Angeles by $4,526/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Median Income
$4,526
$64,119 vs $59,593/yr
East Los Angeles
Violent Crime
6% lower
558.4 vs 594.1 per 100k
San Antonio
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$384k less
$198,000 vs $582,400
San Antonio
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 34.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 15 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 8 and San Antonio wins 15. 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 East Los Angeles to San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $198,000 median home), income ($64,119 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and San Antonio, TX are about 1,194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.