Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe 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
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($198,000 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $283/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,472)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cons
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tempe by $12,429/yr
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tempe, AZ
Pros
21% less violent crime than San Antonio
Households earn $12,429 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$184k less
$198,000 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$12,429
$72,022 vs $59,593/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
21% lower
470.3 vs 594.1 per 100k
Tempe
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 94.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 14 of 23 categories. San Antonio wins 9 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $382,100 median home), income ($59,593 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and Tempe, AZ are about 835 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.