San Antonio is most notable for its delicious food, the Riverwalk, and early-American/Texan history. Photo Credit: Bobby Magee The city is a pretty big tourist destination, which can make it hard to find a place to put down roots. Lucky for you, that’s what we’re here for! This guide will help you familiarize yourself with all the basics you’ll need to know before moving to Texas’s second largest city.

Quick Alamo City Snapshot With a population of a whopping 1,492,510 , San Antonio is the 7th most populated city in the country . That’s more than Austin and San Diego and only slightly less than Philadelphia!

, San Antonio is the . That’s more than Austin and San Diego and only slightly less than Philadelphia! The average rent in San Antonio as of early 2018 is around $905 . This is low compared to other large metropolitan areas (San Antonio ranks 54th on the list of US metro rents).

. This is low compared to other large metropolitan areas (San Antonio on the list of US metro rents). San Antonio is huge. The city is nearly 500 square miles in area. To give you some perspective, you can fit all of Chicago into San Antonio twice! And here’s a video that’ll give you a better idea of just how cool the Riverwalk is!

Where Are People Like Me Living? We all want to live near people who are at similar points in their lives. Esri.com’s ziptapestry tool is one of the coolest resources available for breaking down demographics by zip code. For example: If you plug in the zip code for the Riverwalk (78249) you’ll get a detailed breakdown of the main types of people living in the area. Yeah, it’s that good! Still, great neighbors aren’t worth much if you can’t get to work on time. So let’s take a look at what the commuting situation in San Antonio is like. Back to index



You will definitely need a car Because it’s such a large city, San Antonio is heavily car-dependent. You will need to become very familiar with its highways if you plan on leaving the house. Below is a commute time hotspot map for getting into downtown. Red areas are close to sixty minutes while green areas are closer to five minutes or less. Bus fares are $1.20 for adults for one ride, an extra 15 cents for unlimited transfers for 2.5 hrs, or $5 for a day pass. Students receive a 50% discount to these prices. For more info about bus routes, check here. There’s also megabus, a bus from San Antonio to downtown Austin, the fare is usually less than $10 and the trip is roughly an hour and a half long. Bottom line: Driving is a must in most San Antonio neighborhoods. Back to index



Not the kind of city where you can rely on biking or walking to get around The bus system outside of downtown ain’t great and the same goes for walkability. If you don’t like driving or can’t drive, you’ll pretty much want to live near Downtown. The average walk score for the downtown area is about 81/100. So if you’re looking for a place to live but don’t want to have the responsibility of a car, Downtown should be your eleccion numero uno. The city has, however, become increasingly more bike-friendly through the implementation of more and more bike roads. If driving isn’t an option, biking in conjunction with public transportation is a potential back up. Back to index



San Antonio is about as safe as any other city So yeah… On paper, San Antonio doesn’t look too hot… The Crime Index in San Antonio, according to Neighborhood Scout is currently sitting at a cool 4 out of 100. Keep in mind, these statistics do not reflect your likelihood of being the victim of a crime, but it instead just shows the frequency at which crime occurs. That being said, areas like Downtown near the AT&T Center and near Eastside and the inner-west-side can get pretty sketchy, particularly after dark. While the city has seen a pretty drastic increase in violent crime recently, as long as you keep your wits about you, don’t go looking for trouble, and actively work to avoid conflict you should be fine. Back to index



Choosing a San Antonio Suburb The outer edges of town are where you’d want to be if you prefer to avoid city life. Past Loop 1604 are landscapes true to what you’d expect from Texas outdoors. Spring Branch and Boerne host a wide variety of quaint and private homes. Living in these neighborhoods can run much more expensive than in the inner city depending on where you decide to stay, so keep that in mind if you should decide that the city isn’t for you. For example, a two bedroom in Spring Branch might run you as high as $1,400 a month while Boerne will be slightly better priced around $1,050 and up a month. Back to index



Now that you’re ready to move to San Antonio… If you want to get an idea on the cost of different moving services, check out our moving cost calculator. You also may want to have a glance at our moving out of state guide for more info and tips to consider when making a long distance move. Before moving, you’ll also want to contact the city’s Right-Of-Way Management Division to file for a temporary street parking permit. Here are the instructions on how to file for the permit, and you can click here for more detailed information about the process. Moving Permits: If you plan on moving near the downtown area, you may or may not need a permit to occupy a space temporarily. You should visit this website to learn more. Back to index



You’re all moved! Now what? Voter Registration: you can find the steps to register to vote here.

you can find the steps to register to vote here. Driver’s License: You’ll need to get a Texas license within 90 days of moving. You can find out how to do that here.

You’ll need to get a Texas license within 90 days of moving. You can find out how to do that here. Vehicle Registration: find the steps for registering your vehicle here.

find the steps for registering your vehicle here. Trash & Recycling: There is a monthly fee of $20-25. To find out more click this link.

There is a monthly fee of $20-25. To find out more click this link. Water: Water is managed by San Antonio Water System (SAWS). Find out more here.

Water is managed by San Antonio Water System (SAWS). Find out more here. Ways to meet people: One great way is to use meetup.com. The /r/SanAntonio Reddit is also a great place to search for upcoming events.

One great way is to use meetup.com. The /r/SanAntonio Reddit is also a great place to search for upcoming events. To find great local events and happenings check our visitsanantonio.com!

check our visitsanantonio.com! The San Antonio Current that prints a monthly magazine chock full of upcoming events, deals, and news about the great city of San Antonio. Back to index

