Austin is more affordable than San Antonio when you compare rent to income. Living room in the downtown San Antonio apartment building. Rents in Austin have skyrocketed, making it very difficult to find good affordable housing. In San Antonio, a decent apartment at a reasonable price is pretty much the norm.
On average, Austin is about 40% more expensive than San Antonio when it comes to rent. And not only are rents much cheaper, but the total cost of living in San Antonio is generally more affordable than in Austin. In other words, how about living in a city that you can actually afford? With an unemployment rate of around 6.6% and employment growth forecast for the next ten years at approximately 15.2%, things are going well for the San Antonio economy. San Antonio thrives in the technology and science industries with significant participation in healthcare, life sciences, the aerospace industry, information technology, cybersecurity and the new energy economy.
The economies of Austin and San Antonio are booming with a positive outlook in terms of unemployment and employment growth. Homeowners and buyers in the San Antonio area are consistently enjoying more homes for less money, and according to experts, that trend won't stop anytime soon. While it doesn't have such a strong profile compared to Austin in terms of corporate presence, San Antonio maintains a healthy business environment through low taxes and investments in infrastructure. When it comes to the total cost of living, there's a big difference between Austin and San Antonio; living in Austin costs 33% more than living in San Antonio, according to Sperling's Best Places.
These are all the reasons why living in San Antonio is better than living in your neighbor to the north. In terms of walkability, WalkScore ranks Austin as the 29th most walkable city in Texas, while San Antonio is ranked 40th. In terms of travel time, Austin and San Antonio suffer from a lot of traffic and congestion, but Austin has the worst record. According to GreatSchools, San Antonio is home to 1095 schools (preschool and high school), while Austin includes only 715 schools (preschool and high school).
Perhaps just as historically important, The Menger Bar in San Antonio is located in the 162-year-old Menger Hotel. San Antonio has a lot of traffic focused on the center of the city that expands to more open areas around the suburbs. While San Antonio residents enjoy a lower cost of living, Austin residents are experiencing lower unemployment and more significant job growth. San Antonio has a population of 1.4 million, almost double that of Austin, but somehow the city manages to exude kindness and show off a true sense of community.
