Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 14 of 23 categories
San Antonio
Texas
9
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. Petersburg
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($198,000 vs $289,000)
4% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Rent averages $221/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,410)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $10,740/yr
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.6%)
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Households earn $10,740 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 63°F
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than San Antonio
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Violent Crime
4% lower
594.1 vs 619.6 per 100k
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$91k less
$198,000 vs $289,000
San Antonio
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 89.6°F
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$10,740
$70,333 vs $59,593/yr
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 ✓ Lower | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High | 145⚠ 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 | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 259,343 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 14 of 23 categories. San Antonio wins 9 and St. Petersburg wins 14. 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. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $289,000 median home), income ($59,593 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and St. Petersburg, FL are about 970 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.