Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 El Paso leads 12 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181
San Antonio
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$59,593 ✓ Higher
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
53% less violent crime than San Antonio
Homes cost $39k less ($159,300 vs $198,000)
Rent averages $213/mo less ($976 vs $1,189)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than San Antonio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.9%)
Median income trails San Antonio by $3,883/yr
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Households earn $3,883 more per year on average
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
53% lower
278.4 vs 594.1 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$39k less
$159,300 vs $198,000
San Antonio
Median Income
$3,883
$59,593 vs $55,710/yr
San Antonio
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $198,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,189 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $59,593 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 182⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 83.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 34.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 12 of 23 categories. El Paso 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 El Paso to San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $198,000 median home), income ($55,710 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and San Antonio, TX are about 498 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.