Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio leads 13 of 23 categories
Orlando
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738
San Antonio
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,699 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($198,000 vs $332,700)
29% less violent crime than Orlando
Rent averages $320/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,509)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Orlando
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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 Orlando by $6,699/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Median Income
$6,699
$66,292 vs $59,593/yr
Orlando
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
San Antonio
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Violent Crime
29% lower
594.1 vs 835.8 per 100k
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$135k less
$198,000 vs $332,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 ✓ Higher | $59,593 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 13 of 23 categories. Orlando wins 10 and San Antonio wins 13. 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 Orlando to San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $198,000 median home), income ($66,292 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and San Antonio, TX are about 1,046 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.