City snapshot
"How far is it?" is only half of the moving story in San Antonio, a big city that moves quickly. "How hot is it and how hard is it to get to?" is the other half. The National Weather Service says that the average high temperature in San Antonio in July is 94.9°F and in August it is 96.0°F. In the middle of summer, the same normals table shows that there are about 28–29 days a month when the high temperature is at or above 90°F.
When it's really hot, things get trickier: cardboard gets softer faster, getting too wet can be dangerous, and loading in the late afternoon can be riskier for pets, kids, and older family members. Many local customers choose to start early and keep the things they need for the "first night" in their own cars so they don't have to open boxes during the hottest part of the day. Rules about water are also a part of being a "new homeowner" right now. The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) drought rules page says that in Stage 3, you can only water your lawn once a week during certain times.
For newbies, this is important because if you move into a house with a sprinkler system, you may need to change the schedules right away to avoid fees and water waste. Karen Guz, a leader in conservation for SAWS, said, "This year will be hard because there will be less water in the Edwards Aquifer."
The people in charge in the area have also seen water as a long-term problem of growth and quality of life. "Our water security is the foundation for economic vitality and quality of life in San Antonio," said Ron Nirenberg, who used to be mayor. We have nothing without it.
Checking in with newcomers: First, ask yourself, "Where can a moving truck park? For how long?" when you look at homes or flats. (2) "Do I have to water on a certain day or follow stage restrictions?" There won't be any shocks on day one because of these small questions.
Housing and picking an area without overthinking it
Start with government medians if you want a clear starting point for how affordable something is. The U.S. Census Bureau's QuickFacts table shows that the median worth of a home owned by a single person is $235,700 (2020–2024) and the median gross rent is $1,324 (2020–2024).
From the point of view of a mover, it's much easier to answer "where should I live?" if you first pick your top two goals and then sort through the rest. Pairs like "short commute + walkability," "schools + quiet streets," and "newer house + easy truck access" come up a lot. Once you choose the pair, your shortlist shrinks quickly, and you can feel more confident about setting up viewings and moving bids.
If you want to buy a house, read up on property taxes early on. On its property tax information page, the City of San Antonio says that the county tax assessor-collector bills and collects city property taxes and that a residence homestead can get a 20% exemption of market value (city part).
For local applications, the city tells homeowners to check out the homestead exemption application advice on the Bexar Central Appraisal District website. This website also reminds people that there is no fee to apply for exemptions through this district.
Protect your move-out money from the start if you rent by writing down how the unit is kept and learning the rules for your state. On the renter's rights page from the Texas Attorney General's Office, it says that renters must give a forwarding address so that landlords can send the deposit back to the tenant (less any deductions) within 30 days.
Jobs, commute, and what “affordable” really means
Job security is part of the question "is this city a safe long-term fit?" even if you aren't moving for a new job. The typical household income in the QuickFacts table is $65,056 (in 2024 dollars, 2020–2024), and the average time it takes to get to work is 24.5 minutes (2020–2024).
San Antonio's public messages about economic growth focus on a number of groups of industries. The Economic Development Department of the city of San Antonio's "About San Antonio" page lists strategic clusters like bioscience, business services, information technology, cybersecurity, aerospace, and the manufacturing of cars.
When asked "who actually hires people here?" area economic partners often point to the military, healthcare, and big businesses. There are more than 82,000 direct jobs at Joint Base San Antonio, according to the Greater San Antonio Partnership's page on major companies. The page also lists other direct and indirect jobs.
There are other things that help a place grow as well. In 2025, Rudy Garza, who was CEO of CPS Energy, said, "San Antonio's growth has surpassed ERCOT.
New-resident setup checklist with official links
Most people don't pay enough attention to this part. You can't "arrive and relax" until your account for water, electricity, and trash is set up and your Texas paperwork is in order. When customers ask us, "What should I do first after delivery? ", this is the setup table we use as a guide.
| What to set up | What to know | Official place to start |
|---|---|---|
| Electric + gas service | Start/transfer service online if you are in the CPS service area. | CPS Energy Start Service |
| Water + sewer | New accounts typically require the property address and a valid ID; SAWS notes deposits for new residential service. | SAWS start-stop service instructions |
| Trash, recycling, organics | City solid-waste services are billed through CPS Energy; the city says new customers should call 3-1-1 after the CPS account is set up. | City solid waste billing & accounts guidance |
| Brush & bulky pickup | The city states curbside brush and bulky collection is provided twice per year (timed by service area). | Curbside brush & bulky item collection |
| Texas driver license | Texas DPS states you can drive with a valid out-of-state license for up to 90 days after moving to Texas. | Texas DPS moving-to-Texas driver license guide |
| Register your vehicle | TxDMV states you have 30 days from the time you move to Texas to register your vehicle; it also lists minimum insurance limits and outlines inspection/registration steps. | TxDMV New to Texas vehicle registration steps |
| School comparisons | Use TEA report cards for a standardized view of campus performance and data. | Texas Education Agency school report cards |
| Local transit fares | If you plan to use public transit, VIA lists current fares (regular bus fare shown on its fares page). | VIA Metropolitan Transit fares |
Tax note (popular "2026 question"): A lot of people say that Texas doesn't have a personal income tax.
Move planning, permits, and how to hire a mover safely
A lot of moving problems aren't caused by "bad lifting." When they plan, things go wrong: the wrong size truck, no elevator reservation, no legal place to park, or a price that doesn't match the work that needs to be done. Consumer protection laws in Texas stress the importance of written proposals and contracts and caution against depending on verbal agreements.
If you are moving into a dense area, a building with strict loading windows, or a street that a truck can't safely go down, you may need to reserve room or work with the city ahead of time. On the right-of-way pages for San Antonio, there is a list of different types of permits, such as temporary parking management permits (parking restriction permits) and lane/sidewalk shutdown permits.
The city's temporary street closure guidelines say that there is a $100 fee per block/day fee for special situations like packages that are too big, cranes, or requests to close the street. Applications should be sent in 30 days before the event.
Take two pictures at each address before the move: (1) the best legal spot for the truck to park, and (2) the whole path from the truck to the door, including any stairs or steps. This will help you avoid a lot of trouble on moving day. This helps your moving crew make plans for protection and tools and gives them a more accurate quote.
If you're moving within Texas, here's how to check out a mover: The Texas "Smart Mover" consumer guide warns people about "rogue" movers who aren't licensed. It also says that real licensed moving companies will have a current TxDMV certificate/license number that people can look up in the "Truck Stop" database.
A registered mover search tool from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says that national movers must be registered with the federal government and have a U.S. DOT number. This is how you can make sure that the mover you hire is legitimate.
The "110% rule" for non-binding estimates is also explained by federal consumer advice. This rule says that if you get a non-binding estimate, the mover can't ask for more than 110% of the estimate at delivery; the rest will be billed later.
As movers, we can tell you not to pick a mover based on a quick phone price. You should make your choice based on three things: (1) a written estimate or plan that fits your access needs; (2) confirmed authority (TxDMV for moves in Texas; FMCSA for moves across state lines); and (3) clear valuation/liability options that you understand.
If you need help moving locally or long-distance into San Antonio, our local page explains how we work and how much we charge (by the hour for local moves and by the flat rate for long-distance moves), and you can get a price online. Check out: movers in San Antonio, moving costs, and getting a moving price.
It is still possible to move to San Antonio in 2026, but you will need to plan ahead for (a) the summer heat, (b) water limits that can make daily life harder, and (c) the paperwork times for registering your car and getting a driver's license in Texas. For setup, only use official links, demand written figures, and check credentials before you pay deposits or set up loading times.
