Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 12 of 23 categories
San Antonio
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($198,000 vs $264,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 24°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Paul by $10,326/yr
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Households earn $10,326 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than San Antonio
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Violent Crime
4% lower
594.1 vs 617.7 per 100k
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$67k less
$198,000 vs $264,900
San Antonio
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$10,326
$69,919 vs $59,593/yr
St. Paul
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 12 of 23 categories. San Antonio wins 11 and St. Paul wins 12. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $264,900 median home), income ($59,593 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and St. Paul, MN are about 1,110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.