Performance
Score Breakdown
San Antonio
Aberdeen
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Aberdeen is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
19% higher compared to San Antonio.
Housing costs are a major driver: San Antonio's average rent is
44% higher than Aberdeen's.
| Metric | San Antonio | Aberdeen | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,805 | $1,250 | +44% |
| Groceries | $400 | $388 | +3% |
| Utilities | $180 | $288 | -38% |
| Transport | $120 | $80 | +50% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $305 | -18% |
| Monthly Total | $2,755 | $2,311 | +19% |
| Cost Index | 91 | 82 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
San Antonio offers 96% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, San Antonio delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in San Antonio is estimated at
$85,000 vs $50,000 in Aberdeen.
| Metric | San Antonio | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $76,000 | $38,861 |
| Salary Needed | $85,000 | $50,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 83,516 idx | 47,391 idx |
| Household Income | $66,176 | $64,405 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | San Antonio | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Aberdeen has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
7,500 minutes (125 hours) per year compared to San Antonio.
San Antonio scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Aberdeen leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | San Antonio | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 11 min |
| Transit Score | 72.0/10 | 20.0/10 |
| Walkability | 37.0/10 | 39.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 25.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
San Antonio is the larger city
— approximately 55.4x the population of Aberdeen.
From a growth perspective, San Antonio is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Aberdeen has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | San Antonio | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,572,360 | 28,376 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.55% | 0.97% |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 36.4 |
| Unemployment | 4.80% | 1.70% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
San Antonio
Advantages
San Antonio's cost of living is approximately 9% lower than the national average, making it an affordable major U.S. city.
The city has demonstrated strong job growth, projected to lead Texas in 2025 and ranking as the third-fastest-growing major job market in 2024.
San Antonio's population continues to grow, with an estimated 1.55% annual increase, driven by both domestic and international migration.
Public transportation, particularly VIA Metropolitan Transit, received the highest customer satisfaction rating in the U.S. for transit agencies in 2024.
Overall crime in San Antonio fell by more than 13% in 2025, with significant drops in both violent and property crimes.
Drawbacks
The median household income in San Antonio, at $66,176 in 2024, remains below the national average.
Healthcare costs in San Antonio are slightly higher than the national average.
Despite a highly-rated public transit system, San Antonio is largely car-dependent with a low overall walkability score for much of the city.
The San Antonio housing market experienced a slight decline in median home prices by 2.6% year-over-year as of May 2026.
Traffic congestion is a concern, with San Antonio ranking as the 25th most congested city in the U.S. in 2025.
Aberdeen
Advantages
Aberdeen boasts a significantly low unemployment rate of 1.7% in 2026, well below the national average, indicating a robust job market.
The cost of living in Aberdeen is 18% less expensive than the national average, particularly in housing, making it highly affordable.
Residents enjoy a remarkably short average commute time of 11 minutes, significantly reducing daily travel stress.
Aberdeen serves as a regional healthcare hub with three hospitals and a wide range of medical specialties, ensuring quality healthcare access.
The city has a high livability score of 80 out of 100, reflecting a good quality of life with ample amenities and a strong community feel.
Drawbacks
Crime data for Aberdeen is conflicting, with some sources indicating a higher violent crime rate than the average U.S. city and a lower safety percentile.
Public transportation options are limited to a demand-response bus service, with very low utilization among workers, leading to high car dependency.
Aberdeen experiences very cold, snowy, and windy winters with average low temperatures reaching 6°F in January.
Despite some positive projections, population growth rates are inconsistent across sources, with some indicating stagnation or decline in recent years.
The average rent in Aberdeen has seen a significant increase of 52.9% in the past year, potentially impacting affordability for new renters.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
San Antonio
#49Texas, USA
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,805
Avg Salary
$76,000
Cost Index
91
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
72.0/10
Walkability
37.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.55%
Unemployment
4.80%
Livability
74
Business
68
Aberdeen
#64South Dakota, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$38,861
Cost Index
82
Commute
11 min
Transit Score
20.0/10
Walkability
39.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.97%
Unemployment
1.70%
Livability
80
Business
65
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