The Vibe

San Antonio is Texas's second-largest city but feels more like a big small town. It's slower-paced than Austin, cheaper than Dallas, and richer in history than Houston. Strong Mexican-American heritage shapes the food, music, festivals, and daily life. Expect friendly people, a relaxed pace, and a deep sense of place.

Cost of Living

• Almost 9% lower than the US average; one of the most affordable major metros in Texas.

• Electricity is run by CPS Energy (city-owned, cheaper than most of Texas). Water by SAWS.

• Population: 1,526,656 (July 2024), the 2nd-largest city in Texas, up 6.4% since 2020 — U.S. Census QuickFacts

Getting Around

• You will need a car. Public transit (VIA) exists but is limited.

• Highways: I-10, I-35, I-37, Loop 410, and Loop 1604 form the main grid. Avoid 281 North and 1604 at rush hour.

• Drive time downtown to far North Side: 30 to 45 minutes in traffic.

• The airport (SAT) is small, central, and 15 minutes from downtown.

Things to Do

• River Walk: Touristy downtown, beautiful Museum Reach and Mission Reach extensions for locals (run, bike, kayak).

• The Alamo and the four other Spanish missions (UNESCO World Heritage site).

• Pearl: Weekend farmers market, restaurants, Hotel Emma.

• Brackenridge Park, Japanese Tea Garden, San Antonio Zoo.

• McNay Art Museum, San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA), Witte Museum.

• Spurs games at the Frost Bank Center; the city lives and dies with the Spurs.

• Fiesta (late April): 11-day citywide party with parades, food, and cascarones.

• Day trips: Hill Country wineries (Fredericksburg), Gruene, New Braunfels (Schlitterbahn Six Flags, Comal River tubing), Austin (75 minutes north), Garner State Park, Enchanted Rock.

Practical Tips

• Register your car and get a Texas license within 90 days.

• Vehicle inspection is no longer required statewide as of January 2025, but emissions testing still applies in Bexar County.

• Tornadoes are rare; hailstorms and flash floods are the real weather risks. Get good auto and home insurance.

• Mosquitoes and fire ants are year-round. Spray your yard.

• Allergies are brutal, especially cedar fever in December and January.

• Tip well; the service industry runs the city.

Quick Local Lingo

• Puro: Authentic, real San Antonio.

• The 210: The city itself (area code).

• NB: New Braunfels.

• The loop: Either Loop 410 (inner) or 1604 (outer); ask which.

• H-E-B: Pronounced "H-E-B," never "heb."