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Cost of Living · Texas

San Antonio Cost of Living

San Antonio, Texas costs approximately 7.0% below the US national average. Compare with 99 other major US cities.

0.93×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
San Antonio ranks 9 of 12 cities in Texas by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than San Antonio (73)
San Francisco, CA
+55.9% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+45.2% more expensive
New York City, NY
+41.9% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+39.8% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+39.8% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+31.2% more expensive
Boston, MA
+31.2% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+30.1% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+29.0% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+29.0% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+26.9% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+26.9% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+26.9% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+26.9% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+23.7% more expensive
Miami, FL
+20.4% more expensive
Portland, OR
+18.3% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+18.3% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+18.3% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+18.3% more expensive
Denver, CO
+16.1% more expensive
Chicago, IL
+12.9% more expensive
Austin, TX
+12.9% more expensive
Baltimore, MD
+12.9% more expensive
Stockton, CA
+12.9% more expensive
Aurora, CO
+12.9% more expensive
Hialeah, FL
+12.9% more expensive
Frisco, TX
+12.9% more expensive
Las Vegas, NV
+11.8% more expensive
Minneapolis, MN
+11.8% more expensive
Plano, TX
+11.8% more expensive
Chandler, AZ
+11.8% more expensive
Phoenix, AZ
+9.7% more expensive
Philadelphia, PA
+9.7% more expensive
Atlanta, GA
+9.7% more expensive
Tampa, FL
+9.7% more expensive
Henderson, NV
+9.7% more expensive
Reno, NV
+9.7% more expensive
Gilbert, AZ
+9.7% more expensive
Charleston, SC
+9.7% more expensive
Salt Lake City, UT
+9.7% more expensive
Orlando, FL
+8.6% more expensive
Wilmington, DE
+7.5% more expensive
Raleigh, NC
+7.5% more expensive
Virginia Beach, VA
+7.5% more expensive
St. Paul, MN
+7.5% more expensive
Chesapeake, VA
+7.5% more expensive
North Las Vegas, NV
+7.5% more expensive
Boise, ID
+7.5% more expensive
Fresno, CA
+7.5% more expensive
Worcester, MA
+7.5% more expensive
Dallas, TX
+6.5% more expensive
Nashville, TN
+6.5% more expensive
Colorado Springs, CO
+6.5% more expensive
Bakersfield, CA
+6.5% more expensive
St. Petersburg, FL
+6.5% more expensive
Madison, WI
+6.5% more expensive
Norfolk, VA
+5.4% more expensive
Jacksonville, FL
+4.3% more expensive
Charlotte, NC
+4.3% more expensive
Mesa, AZ
+4.3% more expensive
Houston, TX
+3.2% more expensive
Fort Worth, TX
+3.2% more expensive
Tucson, AZ
+3.2% more expensive
Glendale, AZ
+3.2% more expensive
Garland, TX
+3.2% more expensive
Spokane, WA
+3.2% more expensive
Pittsburgh, PA
+2.2% more expensive
Arlington, TX
+2.2% more expensive
Tallahassee, FL
+2.2% more expensive
Milwaukee, WI
+1.1% more expensive
Albuquerque, NM
+1.1% more expensive
New Orleans, LA
+1.1% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than San Antonio (25)
Columbus, OH
−1.1% cheaper
Detroit, MI
−1.1% cheaper
Cincinnati, OH
−1.1% cheaper
Kansas City, MO
−1.1% cheaper
Lexington, KY
−1.1% cheaper
Corpus Christi, TX
−1.1% cheaper
Buffalo, NY
−1.1% cheaper
Greensboro, NC
−1.1% cheaper
Knoxville, TN
−1.1% cheaper
El Paso, TX
−2.2% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−2.2% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−2.2% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−2.2% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−3.2% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−3.2% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−3.2% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−4.3% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−4.3% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−4.3% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−5.4% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−5.4% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−5.4% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−7.5% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−7.5% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−7.5% cheaper

What living in San Antonio costs

San Antonio runs at 0.93x the US national average — 73 of the 99 other metros tracked here cost more, 25 cost less. A one-bedroom goes for about $1,150 a month, or $13,800 a year, and the median home sits near $290,000.

The price-to-rent ratio here is roughly 21, which is high. Above about 20, renting and investing the down payment usually beats buying over a normal holding period — the purchase price is steep relative to what the same property earns as a rental.

Working and living here

San Antonio is a metro of roughly 2.7M and growing fast, running on military/defense, healthcare, tourism. Larger employers include Joint Base San Antonio, USAA, H-E-B.

Texas levies no state income tax and San Antonio adds no local one, so the only income tax withheld here is federal. That is worth several thousand dollars a year against a comparable salary in a taxing state — though property and sales taxes in no-income-tax states tend to run above average, so the advantage narrows once you buy.

Getting around: San Antonio is effectively car-dependent. Budget for a car — around $9,000 a year all-in once insurance, fuel, maintenance and parking are counted, a cost the index assumes but does not itemise.

Climate: Hot subtropical climate with mild winters near 40°F lows and very hot summers with July highs near 95°F.

No Texas state income tax, and one of the largest concentrations of military installations (Joint Base San Antonio) of any US metro.

Related tools

Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — pay by job and state. Compare against another metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Antonio expensive to live in?▾
Relative to the US average, no — the cost index is 0.93x, above 25 and below 73 of the 99 other metros tracked here. A one-bedroom averages $1,150 a month and the median home $290,000.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in San Antonio?▾
A common rule keeps rent under 30% of gross income, which at $1,150 a month implies about $46,000 a year for a one-bedroom. That is a floor rather than a comfortable figure — it leaves nothing for savings or the car this metro effectively requires.