Moving from Virginia Beach, VA to San Antonio, TX
A 1572 mi cross-country move between Virginia Beach and San Antonio is 29h 24m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 8 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.
1572 mi · 29h 24m by car · TX → LA → MS → AL → GA → SC → NC → VA
Distance & route
| Route through | TX → LA → MS → AL → GA → SC → NC → VA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 10, I 85, TX 130 |
| Major cities en route | Sugar Land, Houston, Pearland, Pasadena, League City |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Virginia Beach | San Antonio | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 97.941 | 94.716 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 89.579 | 82.169 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 96.767 | 93.757 | 100.0 |
| Services | 99.805 | 94.575 | 100.0 |
Virginia Beach and San Antonio sit within 5% on the overall BEA RPP — the composite diff is small, but rent or groceries alone may move more.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Zillow ZHVI drops from $427,032 in Virginia Beach to $249,810 in San Antonio, a 3.3% decrease on the typical home value.
YoY change: Virginia Beach +2.8%, San Antonio -2.7%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Virginia Beach | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 60°F | 69°F |
| January avg low | 32°F | 40°F |
| July avg high | 87°F | 94°F |
| Annual snowfall | 3.4" | 0.1" |
| Annual precipitation | 46.6" | 34.0" |
Annual temperature rises 9.2°F moving to San Antonio per NOAA normals.
Snowfall is a non-factor at the destination: San Antonio sees under an inch a year per NOAA normals.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: OCEANA NAS, VA US, SAN ANTONIO INCARNATE WORD, TX US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Virginia Beach | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 457,066 | 1,458,954 |
| Median household income | $90,685 | $62,917 |
| Median age | 37.4 | 34.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25% | 17.7% |
| Avg household size | 2.54 | 2.66 |
San Antonio households earn about 3.3% less than Virginia Beach at the median — $90,685 → $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 Virginia 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
- I-40 through Pigeon Gap and I-26 over Saluda Grade can see chain requirements in winter storms.
- I-64 across Afton Mountain and I-77 at Fancy Gap see chain requirements in winter storms.
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
How does household income compare in Virginia Beach vs San Antonio?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $62,917 in San Antonio vs $90,685 in Virginia Beach — a 30.6% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
How much do homes cost in San Antonio compared to Virginia Beach?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $249,810 in San Antonio vs $427,032 in Virginia Beach — a 41.5% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How far is San Antonio, TX from Virginia Beach, VA?
The driving distance is 1572 mi and the route typically takes 29h 24m via I 10 and I 85. The trip crosses 8 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
What is the climate difference between Virginia Beach and San Antonio?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 69.0°F in San Antonio vs 59.8°F in Virginia Beach (9.2°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.1 in vs 3.4 in. Annual precipitation: 34.0 in vs 46.6 in.
When is the best time to move from Virginia Beach 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 1572 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
Is San Antonio more expensive than Virginia Beach?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in San Antonio is 3.3% lower than Virginia Beach (94.716 vs 97.941, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How does the job market in San Antonio compare to Virginia Beach?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $44,390 in the San Antonio MSA vs $46,990 in the Virginia Beach MSA, on total employment of 1,091,510 and 737,200 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Virginia Beach.
City profiles: Virginia Beach, VA · San Antonio, TX.