Moving from Wilmington, NC to San Antonio, TX
The drive from Wilmington, NC to San Antonio, TX runs 1403 mi — about 25h 48m on interstate, longer with stops. Long-range relocations typically bring real shifts in cost of living, housing prices, climate, and job market. Below, each of those layers is pulled from its source (BEA, Census, Zillow, BLS, NOAA) for a direct comparison.
1403 mi · 25h 48m by car · TX → LA → MS → AL → GA → SC → NC
Distance & route
| Route through | TX → LA → MS → AL → GA → SC → NC |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 10, I 20, 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
| Wilmington | San Antonio | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 96.422 | 94.716 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 87.902 | 82.169 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 96.621 | 93.757 | 100.0 |
| Services | 93.215 | 94.575 | 100.0 |
Overall cost of living in San Antonio and Wilmington is within ±5% on the BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) — plan your budget on category-level differences instead.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Typical home value in San Antonio is 1.8% below Wilmington — $416,159 vs $249,810 per Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).
YoY change: Wilmington -1.4%, San Antonio -2.7%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Wilmington | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 64°F | 69°F |
| January avg low | 36°F | 40°F |
| July avg high | 90°F | 94°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.9" | 0.1" |
| Annual precipitation | 60.1" | 34.0" |
Annual average temperatures in Wilmington (64.4°F) and San Antonio (69.0°F) stay within 5°F of each other (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: WILMINGTON INTL AP, NC US, SAN ANTONIO INCARNATE WORD, TX US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Wilmington | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 118,578 | 1,458,954 |
| Median household income | $63,900 | $62,917 |
| Median age | 37.5 | 34.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | 17.7% |
| Avg household size | 2.15 | 2.66 |
Median household incomes in Wilmington ($63,900) and San Antonio ($62,917) are within a few percent (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 North Carolina 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.
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 far is San Antonio, TX from Wilmington, NC?
The driving distance is 1403 mi and the route typically takes 25h 48m via I 10 and I 20. The trip crosses 7 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
What is the climate difference between Wilmington and San Antonio?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 69.0°F in San Antonio vs 64.4°F in Wilmington (4.6°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.1 in vs 0.9 in. Annual precipitation: 34.0 in vs 60.1 in.
Is San Antonio more expensive than Wilmington?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in San Antonio is 1.8% lower than Wilmington (94.716 vs 96.422, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How much do homes cost in San Antonio compared to Wilmington?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $249,810 in San Antonio vs $416,159 in Wilmington — a 40.0% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How does household income compare in Wilmington vs San Antonio?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $62,917 in San Antonio vs $63,900 in Wilmington — a 1.5% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
When is the best time to move from Wilmington 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 1403 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How does the job market in San Antonio compare to Wilmington?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $44,390 in the San Antonio MSA vs $43,250 in the Wilmington MSA, on total employment of 1,091,510 and 142,780 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 Wilmington.
City profiles: Wilmington, NC · San Antonio, TX.