Houston vs San Antonio Cost of Living
San Antonio is approximately 3.1% cheaper than Houston. See salary equivalence, taxes, and side-by-side breakdown.
Houston, TX
San Antonio, TX
| Salary in Houston | Equivalent in San Antonio | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $48,400 | -$1,600 (-3.2%) |
| $75,000 | $72,700 | -$2,300 (-3.1%) |
| $100,000 | $96,900 | -$3,100 (-3.1%) |
| $150,000 | $145,300 | -$4,700 (-3.1%) |
| $200,000 | $193,800 | -$6,200 (-3.1%) |
Houston and San Antonio cost within 3% of each other overall, so the decision between them is not really a financial one — it comes down to housing type, taxes, and how you want to get around.
Housing does most of the damage
Strip out housing and most US metros cost about the same. Housing is where the difference lives. A one-bedroom runs about $1,250 a month in Houston and $1,150 in San Antonio — $100 a month apart, or $1,200 a year.
Work, weather, and what else is different
Houston is a major metro of about 7.5M and growing fast; San Antonio is a large metro of about 2.7M and growing fast.
Different economies entirely: energy/oil & gas, healthcare (Texas Medical Center), aerospace drive Houston, with ExxonMobil and Memorial Hermann Health System among the anchors, against military/defense, healthcare, tourism in San Antonio where Joint Base San Antonio and USAA dominate. Treat this as a career move as much as a relocation.
Weather is not a rounding error when you actually live somewhere. Houston: January highs near 63°F/lows near 43°F; July highs near 94°F/lows near 75°F, extremely humid and prone to flooding. San Antonio: Hot subtropical climate with mild winters near 40°F lows and very hot summers with July highs near 95°F.
No state income tax and relatively affordable housing for a top-5 metro by population, but hurricane and flood risk drives elevated home insurance costs in many neighborhoods. No Texas state income tax, and one of the largest concentrations of military installations (Joint Base San Antonio) of any US metro.
Overall cost ratios come from BEA Regional Price Parities. Housing figures track published market data and local tax rates come from the municipalities themselves. How these are compiled and updated.
Related tools
Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — hourly and annual conversion. Mortgage calculator — what a home in either metro actually costs monthly. Guide: the true cost of relocating.