Performance
Score Breakdown
San Antonio
New York City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
San Antonio is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
41% lower compared to New York City.
Housing costs are a major driver: San Antonio's average rent is
47% lower than New York City's.
| Metric | San Antonio | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,805 | $3,382 | -47% |
| Groceries | $400 | $520 | -23% |
| Utilities | $180 | $370 | -51% |
| Transport | $120 | $130 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $250 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,755 | $4,652 | -41% |
| Cost Index | 91 | 178 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New York City offers 25% lower 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 $61,000 in New York City.
| Metric | San Antonio | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $76,000 | $100,877 |
| Salary Needed | $85,000 | $61,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 83,516 idx | 56,672 idx |
| Household Income | $66,176 | $80,483 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | San Antonio | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 63.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
San Antonio has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
8,500 minutes (142 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | San Antonio | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 43 min |
| Transit Score | 72.0/10 | 88.0/10 |
| Walkability | 37.0/10 | 89.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 25.00 | 167.60 |
| Car Dependency | High | Low |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of San Antonio.
From a growth perspective, San Antonio is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, San Antonio has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | San Antonio | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,572,360 | 8,585,000 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.55% | % |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 38.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.80% | 4.90% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $1,354.0B |
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.
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
San Antonio
#50Texas, 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
New York City
#65New York, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/10
Walkability
89.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
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