San Antonio is better to live in compared to Austin. San Antonio edges Austin in terms of real estate and cost of living because it is more affordable. Living in Austin will cost you about 33% more than living in San Antonio.
San Antonio surpasses Austin regarding living costs as it is superior to real estate buyers. On the other hand, Austin is quite famous for its low inventory of homes for sale. San Antonio presents a better buy if your goal is to gain affordable real estate and maximize your home investment.
Austin is quite the catch if you want to have a premium education, thriving market, and restaurants in your area. Both places share commonalities because they make Central Texas an ideal region in the United States.
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What are the Pros and Cons of San Antonio vs. Austin?
Pros of living in San Antonio include better Real Estate, low cost of living, and great foods, while the cons are unfavorable weather and transportation. Living in Austin’s pros includes best job employment, better transit, premium education, and a good entertainment scene, while its downside is costly real estate and not-so-good weather conditions.
There are several good sides and downsides to living in the top cities in Texas. Here is the comparison that you need to know.
San Antonio Living
Pros:
- Real Estate
- Cost of Living
- Foods
The accommodation demand in the San Antonio area is increasing as demand outstrips supply, causing prices to reach new highs. The average prices of houses and rents are lesser compared to Austin.
Highland Hills is the most affordable residential community in San Antonio to buy a home, with a median listing price of $170,000. According to the most recent Zumper research, the average rent in San Antonio is $1,700 for a three-bedroom home.
Quintana, Salado Valley, and Sunny Slope are the most affordable communities in San Antonio for rental properties, with average monthly rents of less than $900. With a mean sales revenue of $356,071 and an average cost of $305,400, the average home cost surges to 16%, while the median price rises by 18%.
San Antonio belongs to Texas’ most important cultural centers, but it’s also relatively inexpensive, particularly compared to other cities of comparable population sizes. According to PayScale, the living costs are 14% lower than the national average. San Antonio is less expensive than other major cities in Texas, such as Austin.
The yearly salary is $43,740 on average. The average cost in the area is $879 per month in rent and $185,457 to purchase a home.
The bus system isn’t ideal for long-distance commuting, but it is reasonably priced. Food and grocery costs are 17% lower than average, and health care costs are 9% lower than the average national rate.
San Antonio is best known for its puffy Tacos. The place has become a popular destination for people who want to try deep-fried oysters, chorizo burgers, and various types of tacos from hundreds of different restaurants.
The metropolis has an expansive restaurants selection, from food trucks to gourmet food. They’ve got a lot of delectable Texan foods on the go. There is always a fantastic spot to go for a casual lunch, a nice romantic night, or an instant breakfast.
Cons:
- Weather
- Transportation
The weather in San Antonio is relatively hot. Summer temperatures reach approximately 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. These hot months fall from July to August.
Although the climate is agreeable and there is little rain, the summer weather can be vicious. Because of the combined effect of hills and limestone, there is a little run-off, resulting in deep water in low areas. Furthermore, there is a risk of flood events during intense rainfall.
San Antonio is one of the car-centered cities in Texas. Although the city has cheap public transportation, some areas are hard to reach if you do not have a private car. There is a lack of public transportation because there is no metro system.
The city does not have access to the popular B-Cycle, a bike-share program in other Texas metro areas. You can get around by car, bus, or ridesharing transit means. Furthermore, it ranks 40th in Texas’s lists regarding walkability and does not reputation for being a walking-friendly city.
Austin
Pros:
- Job Employment
- Transit
- Education
- Entertainment Scene
Austin is famous in its tech-related industry. The city is a software and technology hotspot, with Dell Computer and Apple are among the top employers. They have a solid track record in video game development and space technology.
Austin’s wages are relatively high, with an annual median family income of $71,100. The city also has a 2.9 percent unemployment rate, lower than Texas’s state with 4 percent and the national average of 4.1 percent.
The University of Austin and the Local government are both major employers, and the area also has a thriving service industry.
Compared to San Antonio, Austin is an excellent place to bicycle. There is no rail transit, and almost 83% of people get around with their cars. The city has a popular bike-sharing and scooter-sharing program, including the B-cycle and Jump Bikes.
Surprisingly, the transit is far more affordable because an average one gallon of gas only costs around $2.37 or even can go around $1. While you get stuck in traffic, you can still save ample money from your gas utility because the gas is cheap.
Austin’s public transportation system includes CapMetro buses and Metro Rail trains that run between Downtown Austin and suburbs such as Leander. Walking in the city is also good as it ranks 29th in the most walkable Texas City. A single bus ride costs $1.50, and a day pass can cost you $2.50.
Ridesharing services, both national and local, have grown in popularity. A ride into the city center from a neighboring community can cost up to $30.
Austin has a population of 1 million, with 715 from preschool to high school. However, when it comes to top-graded schools, Austin has the edge over San Antonio. Austin has an indisputable advantage due to its prestige as the home of University of Texas academics and football.
The Austin metro area is dwelling to various colleges and universities, including the University of Texas campus, which earned the city the title of a college town. They also have an advantage in overall school quality, with six metro Austin schools obtaining 10/10 ratings.
Austin is an excellent place for entertainment. Every month, at least one massive music festival or cultural activities fair takes place in the city.
The Austin City Limits Music Festival and South by Southwest Conference are notable music festivals. They also have the famous Festivals in Downtown Austin and JMBLYA Austin at Circuit of the Americas; one of the most anticipated music festivals in the city is the Levitation Music Festival at Carson Creek Ranch.
You can see colossal street art in South congress and get enticed in many local handmade gems in South Lamar’s Art garage.
Cons:
- Real Estate
- Weather
The housing market in Austin is very complex compared to San Antonio. Their prices for houses are constantly increasing drastically. Most people cannot afford to purchase, given that housing costs are pretty high.
The average property in Austin tends to cost $347,000, markedly more remarkable than the average home in Texas, which is $185,000, or the mean average home in the United States, which is $238,000.
Rent in Austin has risen by 3.3 percent in the last year, making it the sixth-fastest-growing city in the country compared to the national rent, which only increased by 1.4 percent.
Like San Antonio, Austin is not reputable when it comes to weather. Because of the regular exposure to extreme heat and humidity in the South, air conditioning is required for living in Austin, wherever you are. If you dislike hot weather, it will take you some time to adjust.
The area’s summer high temperature reaches 100 degrees Fahrenheit and goes for several days. The average summer temperature is around 96 degrees Fahrenheit from June to August.
There is also no chilly winter season in Austin. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of 11.5°C (53°F) and daily sunny skies.
Is Austin Safer Than San Antonio?
Austin has a lower crime rate and is safer compared to San Antonio. The city ranks 21st in terms of everyday crime, and its violent crime rate of 2.8 per 100,000 by far is the lowest among Texas cities.
Robbery is one of the crimes that account for less than 20% of all violent crimes in Austin. The city’s rate in terms of criminal records is lower than the San Antonio percentage.
Austin has 271.3 incidents of violent crime per 100,000 people, with 192 of them being assault-related, accounting for more than 70% of the total.
| Crime | Austin, Texas | San Antonio, Texas |
| Violent Crimes | 24.9 | 37 |
| Property Crimes | 55 | 72.4 |
| Note: Crime rank based on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime) | ||
Is Austin or San Antonio More Expensive?
Austin is 33% more expensive to live in than San Antonio. Austin costs 33.0 percent more than San Antonio. Accommodation in Austin is 110.3 percent more costly than housing in San Antonio and has 1.2 percent higher healthcare costs.
Austin is more costly to live in, given the different factors in the overall statistics index from reports.
Comparison Table of Living in San Antonio, Texas, and Austin, Texas
| Living Expenses | San Antonio, Texas | Austin, Texas |
| Housing and Rent | 75.9% | 159.6% |
| Utilities | 94.9% | 99.1% |
| Food And Groceries | 91.4% | 96.7% |
| Transportation | 99.3% | 109.9% |
| Health | 95.7% | 101.6% |
| Miscellaneous | 96.3% | 100.4% |
Data is based on 100 = US National Average
>100 means more expensive
<100 means cheaper than the US average
Housing and Rent Costs
House market in Austin is much pricier than in San Antonio. The rental is also higher when comparing the two Texan big cities. Austin is roughly 40% more costly than San Antonio when it comes to renting. Not only are the rent prices lower, but then as a whole, living cost in San Antonio is lower than in Austin.
Real estate is costly in Austin, granted that their annual salary is higher too. Many people find it challenging to acquire the best accommodation in the city because the price of homes increases yearly.
The housing percentage in San Antonio is 75.9% compared to the significant portion of Austin, which falls into 159.6%. The median home cost for San Antonio is $220,300, while Austin acquires as much as $551,200.
Utility Costs
Utility in Austin costs 4.4% more than in San Antonio. This difference means that utilities paid in Austin like gas, rentals, foods, electricity, and other internet costs more than San Antonio.
San Antonio has 94.9%, while Austin gets about 99.1%.
Food and Grocery Costs
Basic needs such as Food & Groceries cost more in Austin. San Antonio has a 91.4%, while Austin got 96.7%. There is a difference of 5.8% more.
Austin restaurants are excellent but considerably more expensive when it comes to eating, whereas San Antonio’s selection of Mexican food and other delectable foods is excellent and inexpensive.
Transportation Costs
Transportation in Austin is a lot more expensive. The city has an average of 109.9%, even more than the national average. The difference between the two cities also got 10.7% more in favor of Austin.
There are few shuttle services in Downtown Austin compared to San Antonio who got buses which only cost around $2.60 in an Express Bus and $1.30 for regular ones. Luxury bus services around Austin costs about $15.
Also, gas per gallon in Austin costs $2.49, while San Antonio is only $2.28, which is about 2% lower.
Health Care Costs
Austin is costly in terms of its health care. The difference between Austin and San Antonio is around 6.2% more. Austin even exceeds the national average in terms of health care costs.
The city has an average of 91% more hospital expenses than any other city around Texas.
Comparison Table in Health Care
| Austin | San Antonio | |
| Cost of a doctor’s visit | $123.25 | $87.00 |
| Cost of a dentist visit | $112.33 | $90.49 |
| Cost of an optometrist visit | $117.67 | $93.39 |
Taxes
The Texas Constitution expressly prohibits individual income taxes. Texas collects high sales and use taxes rather than income taxes. Both cities have a combined tax rate of 8.25%, while their state taxes fall 6.25%.
Is San Antonio or Austin More Significant in Size?
San Antonio is more extensive than Austin. San Antonio has a population of 1,567,118 compared to Austin’s 995,484. San Antonio has a total area of 465.4 square miles which is 1,205.4 km2, of which the land measures 460.93 square miles or 1,193.8 km2 and 4.5 square miles is water.
San Antonio is about 75 miles or approximately 121 kilometers southwest of its neighboring city, Austin. San Antonio is perched atop the Balcones Escarpment. Its location is around 662 feet or 202 meters above sea level.
On the other hand, Austin has a total area of 305.1 square miles (790.1 km2), of which 7.2 square miles 18.6 km2 is water. Austin’s elevation ranges from 425 feet or 130 meters to approximately 1,000 feet or 305 meters above sea level.
The two cities vie in a close competition based on statistics. Census Bureau Department report from the United States states that San Antonio is currently ranked No. 2 in increasing population over the last year and having behind is the city of Austin, which falls not far to No. 3. San Antonio ranked 7th as the country’s biggest city compared to Austin’s 11th place.
These two Texan cities are 75 miles apart, with vastly different histories and characteristics that can progress together.
Is San Antonio Hotter Than Austin?
Austin is hotter than San Antonio. The summer high of Austin in July is 85 degrees compared to San Antonio’s 94.2 degrees. Austin has 228 sunny days, while San Antonio acquires almost 220 sunny days per year.
Austin edges San Antonio in the hotter place category. There is a minimal difference between the summer highs of both cities in July. April, October, and November are the most pleasant in Austin, whereas July and August are the least enjoyable.
Austin, Texas, receives 34.9 inches of rain per year on average, while San Antonio, Texas, receives 32.8 inches of rain per year. The average annual rainfall in the United States is 38.1 inches.
Austin gets an average of 0.3 inches of snow per year compared to San Antonio who only receives 0.2 inches of snow per year. The average annual snowfall in the United States is 27.8 inches.
Are you considering moving to San Antonio or Austin? Let me know your thoughts and concerns below.