Moving from Modesto, CA to San Antonio, TX

Cross-country relocations like Modesto, CA β†’ San Antonio, TX cover 1659 mi and about 28h 43m of driving through 4 states. Expect a multi-day trip and a meaningful change in climate, cost-of-living, and job market. The sections below compare each data layer directly from BEA, Census, Zillow, BLS, and NOAA.

1659 mi Β· 28h 43m by car Β· TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA

COL -9.0% Home values -44.1% Ξ” +5.9Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1659 mi
Drive time
28h 43m
States
4
Fuel (25 mpg)
66 gal
Route throughTX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA
Primary highwaysI 10, US 87, CA 99
Major cities en routeEl Paso, Las Cruces, Tucson, Chandler, Gilbert

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

ModestoSan AntonioU.S. avg
All items (RPP)104.10894.716100.0
Rents152.25982.169100.0
Goods105.16893.757100.0
Services108.47694.575100.0

San Antonio is 9.0% cheaper than Modesto overall, per BEA Regional Price Parities (2024).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Modesto β€” typical home
$446,494
San Antonio β€” typical home
$249,810
Modesto β€” typical rent
$2,026/mo
San Antonio β€” typical rent
$1,360/mo

Typical home value in San Antonio is 9.0% below Modesto β€” $446,494 vs $249,810 per Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).

YoY change: Modesto -0.7%, San Antonio -2.7%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsModestoSan Antonio
Annual avg temperature63Β°F69Β°F
January avg low39Β°F40Β°F
July avg high95Β°F94Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”0.1"
Annual precipitation12.3"34.0"

Climate warms by 5.9Β°F on the annual average β€” 63.1Β°F β†’ 69.0Β°F.

San Antonio gets essentially no annual snowfall on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals β€” winter gear can largely stay in storage.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: MODESTO CITY CO AP, CA US, SAN ANTONIO INCARNATE WORD, TX US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023ModestoSan Antonio
Population218,6141,458,954
Median household income$77,899$62,917
Median age35.434.6
Bachelor's degree or higher13.8%17.7%
Avg household size3.022.66

Income steps down 9.0%: $77,899 in Modesto vs $62,917 in San Antonio.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Modesto MSA β€” median wage
$47,720
San Antonio MSA β€” median wage
$44,390
Modesto MSA β€” employment
192,020
San Antonio MSA β€” employment
1,091,510

Top occupations in San Antonio MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 145,480 $41,700
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 109,390 $28,430
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 100,480 $37,340
Sales and Related Occupations 93,110 $34,910
Management Occupations 82,250 $100,820

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Texas

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Texas income tax
no state income tax

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Texas's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in San Antonio average 94Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Coastal Texas sees hurricanes June through November; inland areas face severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes in spring.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Texas after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

How does the job market in San Antonio compare to Modesto?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $44,390 in the San Antonio MSA vs $47,720 in the Modesto MSA, on total employment of 1,091,510 and 192,020 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

When is the best time to move from Modesto to San Antonio?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1659 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

Is San Antonio more expensive than Modesto?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in San Antonio is 9.0% lower than Modesto (94.716 vs 104.108, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How far is San Antonio, TX from Modesto, CA?

The driving distance is 1659 mi and the route typically takes 28h 43m via I 10 and US 87. The trip crosses 4 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How does household income compare in Modesto vs San Antonio?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $62,917 in San Antonio vs $77,899 in Modesto β€” a 19.2% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

How much do homes cost in San Antonio compared to Modesto?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $249,810 in San Antonio vs $446,494 in Modesto β€” a 44.1% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Modesto.

City profiles: Modesto, CA Β· San Antonio, TX.

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