San Antonio TX vs San Diego CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
San Antonio, TX
Texas · Population: 1,458,954
- Median HH Income$62,917
- Median Home Price$251,035
- Unemployment5.8%
- Bachelor's+28.7%
San Diego, CA
California · Population: 1,385,061
- Median HH Income$104,321
- Median Home Price$1,006,261
- Unemployment5.9%
- Bachelor's+49.9%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
San Antonio
1,458,954
San Antonio +
San Diego
1,385,061
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
San Antonio
N/A
San Diego
N/A
Median Age
San Antonio
34.6
San Antonio +
San Diego
36.0
Foreign Born
San Antonio
14.3%
San Diego
24.8%
San Diego +
White
San Antonio
48.3%
San Diego
50.4%
San Diego +
Black
San Antonio
7.0%
San Antonio +
San Diego
5.7%
Asian
San Antonio
3.1%
San Diego
17.6%
San Diego +
Hispanic
San Antonio
64.4%
San Antonio +
San Diego
29.6%
Spanish at Home
San Antonio
N/A
San Diego
N/A
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,458,954 | 1,385,061 | San Antonio + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.0 | San Antonio + |
| Foreign Born | 14.3% | 24.8% | San Diego + |
| White | 48.3% | 50.4% | San Diego + |
| Black | 7.0% | 5.7% | San Antonio + |
| Asian | 3.1% | 17.6% | San Diego + |
| Hispanic | 64.4% | 29.6% | San Antonio + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
San Antonio
$62,917
San Diego
$104,321
San Diego +
Per Capita Income
San Antonio
$32,983
San Diego
$54,678
San Diego +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
San Antonio
$63,758
San Diego
$77,230
San Diego +
Unemployment Rate
San Antonio
5.8%
San Antonio +
San Diego
5.9%
Poverty Rate
San Antonio
17.1%
San Diego
11.1%
San Diego +
Bachelor's Degree+
San Antonio
28.7%
San Diego
49.9%
San Diego +
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $62,917 | $104,321 | San Diego + |
| Per Capita Income | $32,983 | $54,678 | San Diego + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $63,758 | $77,230 | San Diego + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 5.9% | San Antonio + |
| Poverty Rate | 17.1% | 11.1% | San Diego + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 28.7% | 49.9% | San Diego + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
San Antonio
$251,035
San Antonio +
San Diego
$1,006,261
Homeownership Rate
San Antonio
52.4%
San Antonio +
San Diego
47.6%
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $251,035 | $1,006,261 | San Antonio + |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 47.6% | San Antonio + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
San Antonio
442
San Antonio +
San Diego
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
San Antonio
2339
San Antonio +
San Diego
2388
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 442 | 503 | San Antonio + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2339 | 2388 | San Antonio + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
San Antonio
34.9%
San Diego
24.2%
San Diego +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
San Antonio
15.2%
San Diego
9.2%
San Diego +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
San Antonio
17.2%
San Diego
16.5%
San Diego +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
San Antonio
24.5%
San Diego
8.5%
San Diego +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
San Antonio
16.0%
San Antonio +
San Diego
16.9%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
San Antonio
13.0%
San Diego
9.3%
San Diego +
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 34.9% | 24.2% | San Diego + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 15.2% | 9.2% | San Diego + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 17.2% | 16.5% | San Diego + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 24.5% | 8.5% | San Diego + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.0% | 16.9% | San Antonio + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 13.0% | 9.3% | San Diego + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
San Antonio
68.5°F
San Diego
61.6°F
San Diego +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
San Antonio
34.9 in
San Diego
12.3 in
San Diego +
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 68.5°F | 61.6°F | San Diego + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 34.9 in | 12.3 in | San Diego + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
San Antonio
9.2 µg/m³
San Diego
7.9 µg/m³
San Diego +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
San Antonio
55.0%
San Diego
75.0%
San Diego +
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 9.2 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | San Diego + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | San Diego + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
San Antonio
26.5 min
San Diego
25.9 min
San Diego +
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | San Diego, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 26.5 min | 25.9 min | San Diego + |
Which City is Right for You?
San Diego leads in median household income at $104,321, while san Antonio offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $251,035. On public safety, San Antonio is safer with a violent crime rate of 442 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in San Diego. San Antonio has a lower unemployment rate at 5.8%, and San Diego has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, San Diego scores better with a lower obesity rate of 24.2%.
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