Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
San Antonio, TX
🏆 San Antonio leads 15 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
San Antonio
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,445,662
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.9%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
Pros
35% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 42°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Homes cost $18k less ($198,000 vs $215,500)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Income
$2,056
$59,593 vs $57,537/yr
San Antonio
Violent Crime
35% lower
594.1 vs 908.7 per 100k
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$18k less
$198,000 vs $215,500
San Antonio
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.6% unemployment
San Antonio
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | San Antonio, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $198,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,189 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $59,593 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | NORTHSIDE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 34.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 1,445,662 |
| Median Age | 34.8 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs San Antonio's 93.7 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 15 of 23 categories. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia to San Antonio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $198,000 median home), income ($57,537 vs $59,593), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and San Antonio, TX are about 1,508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.