Moving from San Jose, CA to San Antonio, TX
A 1681 mi cross-country move between San Jose and San Antonio is 29h 8m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 4 states. Nearly every household line — rent, taxes, climate, commute — usually shifts. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data to make those differences visible on a single screen.
1681 mi · 29h 8m by car · TX → NM → AZ → CA
Distance & route
| Route through | TX → NM → AZ → CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 10, US 87, I 5 |
| Major cities en route | El Paso, Las Cruces, Tucson, Mesa, Chandler |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| San Jose | San Antonio | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 110.423 | 94.716 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 156.659 | 82.169 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 105.168 | 93.757 | 100.0 |
| Services | 211.901 | 94.575 | 100.0 |
Expect about 14.2% lower overall cost of living — BEA RPP 2024 has San Antonio at 94.716 vs San Jose at 110.423.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Expect roughly 14.2% lower home prices — ZHVI goes from $1,463,614 to $249,810 moving to San Antonio.
YoY change: San Jose -2.5%, San Antonio -2.7%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | San Jose | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 62°F | 69°F |
| January avg low | 43°F | 40°F |
| July avg high | 82°F | 94°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.1" |
| Annual precipitation | 16.1" | 34.0" |
Annual temperature rises 7.5°F moving to San Antonio per NOAA normals.
San Antonio gets essentially no annual snowfall on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals — winter gear can largely stay in storage.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SAN JOSE, CA US, SAN ANTONIO INCARNATE WORD, TX US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | San Jose | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 990,054 | 1,458,954 |
| Median household income | $141,565 | $62,917 |
| Median age | 38.1 | 34.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 17.7% |
| Avg household size | 3.03 | 2.66 |
San Antonio households earn about 14.2% less than San Jose at the median — $141,565 → $62,917 on ACS 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in San Antonio MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median 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
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 — 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 94°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
Is San Antonio more expensive than San Jose?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in San Antonio is 14.2% lower than San Jose (94.716 vs 110.423, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
When is the best time to move from San Jose 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 1681 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How much do homes cost in San Antonio compared to San Jose?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $249,810 in San Antonio vs $1,463,614 in San Jose — a 82.9% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How does the job market in San Antonio compare to San Jose?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $44,390 in the San Antonio MSA vs $81,470 in the San Jose MSA, on total employment of 1,091,510 and 1,141,820 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How does household income compare in San Jose vs San Antonio?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $62,917 in San Antonio vs $141,565 in San Jose — a 55.6% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
How far is San Antonio, TX from San Jose, CA?
The driving distance is 1681 mi and the route typically takes 29h 8m via I 10 and US 87. The trip crosses 4 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
What is the climate difference between San Jose and San Antonio?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 69.0°F in San Antonio vs 61.5°F in San Jose (7.5°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.1 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 34.0 in vs 16.1 in.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from San Jose.
City profiles: San Jose, CA · San Antonio, TX.