Comparison · Austin vs San Antonio · United States
Austin vs San Antonio
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Austin for Live music and Texas barbecue; choose San Antonio for The Alamo, River Walk and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 118 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 118 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Austin
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for San Antonio
- March–April and October–November
Side by side
| Austin | San Antonio | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Live music, Texas barbecue and Breakfast tacos | The Alamo, River Walk and Spanish missions |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | March–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$330 | $180–$320 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 36°C (97°F) | August, 36°C (97°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 17°C (63°F) | January, 17°C (63°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AUS | SAT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Austin for…
Live music and Texas barbecue. Austin, the capital of Texas, sits on the Colorado River where the flat prairie meets the limestone hills of the Hill Country. It calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World, with music most nights on Sixth Street, Red River and South Congress, and it…
Choose San Antonio for…
The Alamo, River Walk and free sights. San Antonio grew around five 18th-century Spanish missions, and together they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Alamo downtown and four working mission churches strung along the San Antonio River to the south. The River Walk, a sunken path of…
Top sights compared
| # | Austin | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas State Capitol | The Alamo |
| 2 | Barton Springs Pool | San Antonio River Walk |
| 3 | Congress Avenue Bridge bats | San Antonio Missions National Historical Park |
| 4 | Lady Bird Lake and the Butler Trail | The Pearl |
| 5 | Zilker Park | Market Square (El Mercado) |
Food compared
| Austin | San Antonio |
|---|---|
| Central Texas brisket | Puffy taco |
| Breakfast tacos | Breakfast tacos |
| Queso | Barbacoa and Big Red |
| Tex-Mex enchiladas | Chili con carne |
Which is cheaper?
Austin and San Antonio cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $200–$330 in Austin and $180–$320 in San Antonio (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). San Antonio on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Austin and San Antonio are about 118 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Austin and 3 in San Antonio.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Austin or San Antonio cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $200–$330 in Austin and $180–$320 in San Antonio (estimates).
+Is Austin or San Antonio better for a first trip?
Pick Austin for Live music and Texas barbecue, or San Antonio for The Alamo, River Walk and free sights.
+How far is Austin from San Antonio?
About 118 km in a straight line.