San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad → San Antonio-New Braunfels

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad to San Antonio-New Braunfels is favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 111.9 to 94.7 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $1,903/mo.

-$12,797
BLS median salary lower in San Antonio-New Braunfels
477 to 395
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
20.8:1 to 14.4:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$10,354
DOL infant care lower / yr in San Antonio-New Braunfels

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Favorable
Cost Index: 111.9 → 94.7
Rent Delta: -$1,903/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 17% lower cost of living
  • + $1903/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + Better student-teacher ratios
  • + More affordable childcare

Cons of Moving

  • - $13K lower median salary
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 111.9 to 94.7, so each dollar covers more in San Antonio-New Braunfels (ratio 0.85). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $1,903/mo ($22,836/yr) from $3,001 in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad to $1,098 in San Antonio-New Braunfels.

San Antonio-New Braunfels leads on 5 of 7 federal dimensions, a destination-heavy ledger. San Antonio-New Braunfels sits #222 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad is #386/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $12,797 lower ($81,730 → $68,933). Labor-market size: 1,508,190 tracked jobs at origin vs 1,113,320 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: Texas scores 65 (C, #19/51) vs California at 40 (F, #50/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
San Antonio-New Braunfels
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 111.9
RPP 94.7
San Antonio-New Braunfels
Rent (2BR)
$3,001/mo
$1,098/mo
San Antonio-New Braunfels
Wages
$81,730
$68,933
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
Crime
477 per 100K
395 per 100K
San Antonio-New Braunfels
Schools
20.8:1
14.4:1
San Antonio-New Braunfels
Childcare
$17,920/yr
$7,566/yr
San Antonio-New Braunfels
Environment
17705 violations
35693 violations
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · California
40 F #50/51
Income tax
70
Property tax
72
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
4
Destination state · Texas
65 C #19/51
Income tax
100
Property tax
55
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
44

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad to see what you'd need to earn in San Antonio-New Braunfels to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in San Antonio-New Braunfels
-

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026