Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 12 of 22 categories
San Antonio
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
Tucson
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Households earn $7,544 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Homes cost $20k less ($198,000 vs $218,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 100°F
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
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $198/mo less ($991 vs $1,189)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Antonio by $7,544/yr
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Median Income
$7,544
$59,593 vs $52,049/yr
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$20k less
$198,000 vs $218,200
San Antonio
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 94.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 ✓ Lower | $218,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 541,033 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tucson leads 12 of 22 categories. San Antonio wins 10 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $218,200 median home), income ($59,593 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and Tucson, AZ are about 755 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.