So, now you are considering a move to San Antonio in Texas.
However, you are not sure what is in there. What should you expect?
You may want to know about the touristy things in San Antonio. However, you are not going to be there for a visit. You will live there. And there is a big difference between the two.
Well, let me help you out with your concern.
Here, I will explain the pros and cons of living in San Antonio. Let me discuss whether the city is a great place to work or not. Finally, we’ll give you all the good and bad things to expect when moving to San Antonio.
Are you ready?
Let’s get started.
List of Contents
Is San Antonio, TX, a good place to live in? Home of the River Walk and NBA’s Antonio Spurs
San Antonio, TX, is the second-largest city in the state. It ranks next to Houston.
It has a population of about 2.4 million people and is the home of the River Walk and NBA’s San Antonio Spurs.
What should you anticipate now that you intend to relocate to San Antonio?
Here are the pros and cons of moving to San Antonio, TX.
The Good Side
There are many advantages to moving to San Antonio, TX.
Read on to find out.
Young and Growing
San Antonio currently has more than 2 million residents. And it is growing.
The growing population made San Antonio the second largest city in Texas.
San Antonio has a diverse population. And because of its diversity, it brings to the fore different points of view.
Also, the low average age of its residents is 31 years old. The city also has a higher rating regarding its inclusiveness for different preferences. Finally, the population has a strong awareness of people from different backgrounds.
What’s it like for you?
San Antonio is perfect for you if you are looking for a city with a young population. You will get a city with different cultural aspects with a younger population. You will also see creativity and tolerance exhibited here.
Tight-Knit as Tight-Knit Can Be
As you already know, San Antonio has more than 2 million residents.
However, San Antonio has a tight-knit community despite its sheer population size. Here, everybody seems to know everybody through at least one or two acquaintances.
It cannot be nice if you are looking to date. There will always be a good chance that you will know somebody who knows a friend of your ex or something.
But from a professional standpoint, this tight-knit community can provide you with a lot of help.
Networking becomes easier in San Antonio. It means that it is easy to get a job here if you are a hardworking and competitive employee.
Rich Culture and History
Regarding the cultural and historical background of cities, San Antonio is one of the most interesting in Texas.
The culture, as well as the history of this city, are rich, engaging, and fascinating.
In San Antonio, you can easily see the rich influence of Mexico on the city. This influence could be because of the city’s proximity to Mexico.
Aside from its Mexican influence, there is also a strong Anglo and African-American influence here.
When in San Antonio, it is evident that you can go to any of its cultural activities and events. These cultural activities and events will surely fascinate you and your family, regardless of age.
One of the most notable events is the Fiesta San Antonio celebration.
You can also pay historical sites like The Alamo a visit.
And while in San Antonio, you can access the best Tex-Mex cuisines. Also, San Antonio has entertaining nightlife and a wide selection of theaters and museums.
All these and more will make you fall in love with the culture of San Antonio.
If you are into culture and the arts, I firmly believe San Antonio is right for you.
Sunny Weather Forever
If you love the sun, you better be in San Antonio ASAP!
Here, there are about 300 days of sunshine in a year!
Well, the remaining 60 days could either be rain or part of a bare winter season.
Yes, there is a winter season in San Antonio. However, you would rarely notice it. There is snow, but it is rare.
When temperatures drop below 70, people here feel the cold.
San Antonio is hot. And so, if you loathe the cold, you should move in here.
However, if you do not enjoy the heat, consider purchasing air conditioning. Or you may also spend money on a pool.
Friendly Beyond Neighbors
As mentioned earlier, people here are welcoming. And yes, this is a tight-knit community despite the population and the city amenities.
Another advantage of living in San Antonio is the balance it provides between city amenities and the mindset of its residents.
Despite being a big metro, this city takes on a friendly vibe, thanks to its millions of residents.
After moving here for a few days, you will notice how easy it is to make connections and create a network of friends. Here, it is easy to meet, whether directly or indirectly, many people who are friendly and welcoming.
In San Antonio, you don’t just get friends with neighbors. You become friends with people even from blocks away.
No Longer Taco Tuesday
It would help if you looked for a place to eat when you are new in town.
In San Antonio, you will quickly realize that eating tacos is a way of life.
This fact is a wake-up call. You do not have tacos only on Tuesdays!
You can have tacos daily for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner. It is tacos every day in San Antonio.
Even some restaurants have their takes on the Tex-Mex influences.
For example, Guillermo’s Italian restaurant downtown San Antonio serves chips and salsa instead of bread.
You’ll also discover that no matter which restaurant or bar you visit in San Antonio, it’s simple to find a shot of a margarita.
Barbecue is also famous. The city even holds a barbecue competition to recognize the best-tasting barbecue in town. Watch out for the annual The Bar-B-Que Cook-Off & Festival to get a glimpse (and taste) of the best barbecue there is.
If there is one common denominator here, it is that San Antonio can whip up a good meal.
The Bad Side
Not everything in San Antonio is roses and rainbows.
There will always be a few things that should concern you.
Here are a few of them.
Crime Rates Elevate
One of the things you must know about San Antonio is its crime rate.
The crime rate here can be higher. However, you should note that while the numbers are high, most of these crimes are primarily petty crimes.
But there are also violent crimes.
Also, the level of crime increased by about 68.56% in the past three years.
If you are moving to this city, be wary of which neighborhood you choose. Balcones Heights, Kirby, and Universal City have increased the number of crimes these past few years.
Selma, Olmos Park, and Helotes are the neighborhoods with the least number of crimes.
You can try looking for properties in these areas.
Drivers and Traffic
Are you triggered by people who drive in the left lane?
If you are, then San Antonio might not be your best bet.
A lot of drivers here park in the passing lane. For what reason? Of course, it is for convenience.
Driving in San Antonio requires dealing with a different kind of monster. It is especially true if you go outside the city.
There can also be a lot of traffic here. And this may be the cause of how often drivers disobey the law or arrive late.
But if you get past this phase, you will love it in San Antonio.
The Pets that Stray
San Antonio has another serious issue.
This time, it involves pets, most especially dogs.
When left alone, these pet dogs can create all types of mishaps.
The issue is that some owners would allow their pet dogs to roam freely during the day. The city would pick up about 7,000 pets from the streets in a year alone.
In 2018, Alphonso McCloud received a sentence of four-year imprisonment for allowing his pit bull to roam outside. The pit bull attacked an elderly lady. This attack resulted in the lady needing her arm amputated.
What is the cost of living in San Antonio, TX? Lower living costs than the nation’s average
Compared to most cities across the US, the cost of living in San Antonio, TX, is lower by 10.3%. It is even lower than the average cost of living in Texas.
The Good Side
The most important part of the budget is always food and housing costs.
And when you move to San Antonio, these two are cheaper than the national average.
For starters, San Antonio’s housing costs are cheaper than the rest of Texas. And when compared to the rest of the country, it is cheaper by 24.1%.
For example, the median home cost in San Antonio is US$220,300. This amount is cheaper than the US national average of US$291,700.
Food and groceries are also cheaper in San Antonio.
Food and groceries are about 8.6% cheaper than the national average. The same is accurate with healthcare cost, which is 6.7% more affordable than the national average.
Utilities and transportation costs are also lower than the national average in San Antonio.
Here, utility costs are 5.1% cheaper. The transportation price is also more reasonable here by a small margin compared to the national average.
In San Antonio, transportation costs are 0.7% lower than in the rest of the country.
The Bad Side
In many ways, San Antonio’s cost of living might be lower. You should be aware of one particular offender, though.
Meet the property tax.
Property taxes in San Antonio can be more expensive.
In San Antonio, property taxes can vary depending on the neighborhood. Some property taxes average at around US$2 and a few cents for every US$100 taxable value. These are properties in Windcrest, Alamo Heights, and Hollywood Park, among others.
When within the city center limits, property taxes can be higher.
Why work in San Antonio, TX? – Inspiring job growth
As per the latest report, the San Antonio area saw a job growth rate of 1.6%. This growth is despite the pandemic hammering job markets from around the world.
The growth also placed San Antonio in the ninth position on the jobs list of metros with the best-performing markets.
So, what is it like to work in San Antonio?
The Good Side
There are many advantages to working in San Antonio, Texas. For starters, income tax is non-existent in the whole state. There is also a positive growth rate in jobs. Plus, the future job growth rate is promising.
Let’s Talk Taxes
You can enjoy the advantage of no income tax here when you live anywhere in Texas.
If you move from somewhere with an income tax, you will see an additional amount, however small, to your usual paycheck.
The business and property taxes in Texas are high. However, with the state not collecting income taxes, saving some extra each month is possible.
A Positive Growth Rate
San Antonio, Texas, saw an increase in the job market by 1.6% in the previous year.
Also, the projection for job growth in the next ten years is 39.6%. Such a prediction is higher than the US average of only 33.5%. It only shows that there is a future when it comes to jobs here.
It’s Cheaper Here!
Another advantage of living in San Antonio, Texas, is its cheaper cost of living.
Compared to the rest of Texas, San Antonio is cheaper. San Antonio’s cost of living is about 12% less than the national average.
Rental costs, price of real estate, utilities, transportation, and even the prices of essential goods and commodities are lower in San Antonio compared to other Texas cities.
And so, if you are planning to move to a city complete with amenities but at a lower cost, you might want to consider San Antonio.
Out of the many advantages of living in San Antonio, the cost of living is one of the primary reasons why people move in.
The Bad Side
There are downfalls, too, when working in San Antonio. Remember the heavy traffic I mentioned earlier? That can affect your commute from home to work. Aside from the traffic, there is the unemployment rate, too. Plus, the average income may be lower.
The Concern of the Unemployed
With the pandemic and other world events affecting economies, the job market, too, gets its fair share of negative impact.
In San Antonio, the unemployment rate is one concern that the city should address.
The unemployment rate in the city is higher than the US national average. While the US national average for unemployment is at 6%, the numbers in San Antonio sit at 6.6%.
The city saw positive job growth in the past year. The projected growth is positive in the next ten years. However, the city must be consistent with its programs to ensure constant job market development.
A Not-So-Average Average Income
A San Antonio resident, on average, receives an average annual income of about US$22,784. While the amount may look decent enough considering the lower cost of living, the average income is below the US national average.
The US national average for annual income sits at US$28,555.
When it comes to the median household income, the same narrative holds.
A San Antonio resident gets a median household income of about US$46,317 per year. This amount is lower than the US national average of about US$53,482 per year.
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San Antonio is a good city to live in.
And this should be evident considering the large amounts of people who move from all parts of the country to San Antonio.
Compared to most cities, there is a cheaper cost of living here. The locals are pleasant. The meal is excellent.
Plus, there is no income tax, which should be reason enough to move here.
Are you moving to San Antonio anytime soon?
Let me know.