Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories
San Antonio
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $531k less ($198,000 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $875/mo less ($1,189 vs $2,064)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $39,820/yr
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 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,820 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than San Antonio
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than San Antonio
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$531k less
$198,000 vs $728,800
San Antonio
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$39,820
$99,413 vs $59,593/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
63% lower
222.4 vs 594.1 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 87.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 16 of 23 categories. San Antonio wins 7 and San Marcos wins 16. 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 San Antonio to San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $728,800 median home), income ($59,593 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and San Marcos, CA are about 1,128 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.