Houston vs San Antonio
Compare Houston, TX and San Antonio, TX on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,301/mo in Houston and $1,219/mo in San Antonio, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,357/mo and $1,458/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (262 vs 256 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 94°F and 97°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with San Antonio; if walkable daily life matters more, Houston screens stronger on the walkability proxy (22 vs 16). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
San Antonio leads 81 to 78 on the work screen.
Houston leads 55 to 43 on the daily life screen.
San Antonio leads 61 to 58 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Houston is roughly $102,000 in San Antonio using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Houston | San Antonio | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,301/mo | $1,219/mo | San Antonio |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,357/mo | $1,458/mo | Houston |
| Median home value | $254,000 | $235,000 | San Antonio |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 28.9 min | San Antonio |
| Safety score | 31/100 | 56/100 | San Antonio |
| School score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 22/100 | 16/100 | Houston |
| Outdoor score | 7/10 | 6/10 | Houston |
| Restaurants per 100k | 181.2 | 175.2 | Houston |
| Mountain distance | 299 mi | 286 mi | San Antonio |
| Coast distance | 19 mi | 119 mi | Houston |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 38/100 | 49/100 | San Antonio |
| Coastal flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 78th | 0th | San Antonio |
| Ice storm risk percentile (NRI) | 53th | 23th | San Antonio |
| Hurricane risk percentile (NRI) | 85th | 55th | San Antonio |
What stands out
Houston stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Trail access within 45 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
Houston tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
San Antonio stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
San Antonio tradeoffs
- Very hot summers
Common questions
Is Houston cheaper than San Antonio?
On public benchmarks San Antonio is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,301/mo in Houston vs $1,219/mo in San Antonio; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,357/mo vs $1,458/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Houston or San Antonio safer?
San Antonio screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 31/100 for Houston and 56/100 for San Antonio (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Houston or San Antonio?
School screens show 6/10 for Houston vs 6/10 for San Antonio, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Houston and San Antonio?
Houston: summer highs near 94°F, winter lows near 42°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. San Antonio: 97°F / 37°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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