Living Cost Compare
City skyline at sunset with vibrant orange sky — San Antonio, TX

Cost of Living in San Antonio, TX

Population 1,434,625 · Texas

~$1,270/mo est.1BR $1,084Home $219,700
Photo: Skyler Smith / Unsplash

The cost of living in San Antonio, TX is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,084 a month — 11% lower than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,052 and two-bedrooms $1,327.

Median household income here is $62,917, 17% lower than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,270 before food and transport. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,084
Studio
$1,052
1 Bedroom
$1,084
2 Bedroom
$1,327
3 Bedroom
$1,545
Buying a Home$219,700
Median Home Value
$219,700
Income$62,917
Median Household Income
$62,917
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,010

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth
Milk (gal)
$4.16
Bread (lb)
$1.73
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
Bananas (lb)
$0.61

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities16.4¢/kWh
Electricity
16.4¢/kWh
Natural Gas
$24.61/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.96/gal
Regular Gasoline (Texas)
$3.96/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$1.30
Base Fare (VIA Metropolitan Transit)
$1.30

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (TX)6.25% sales
State Sales Tax
6.25%
State Income Tax (top rate)
None

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime605 violent
Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)
605
Property Crime (per 100k/yr)
4,665

FBI Crime Data Explorer, San Antonio Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 34.6 yrs
Median Age
34.6 yrs
Homeownership
52.4%
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.7%
Avg Commute
24.6 min
Climate68.5°F
Avg Annual Temperature
68.5°F
Annual Precipitation
34.9 in

San Antonio cost of living — FAQ

Is San Antonio expensive to live in?
San Antonio is around the middle of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,084 per month ranks #34 of 50 and is 11% lower than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in San Antonio?
Average rent in San Antonio, TX runs a studio around $1,052, a one-bedroom around $1,084, a two-bedroom around $1,327, a three-bedroom around $1,545 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in San Antonio?
To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,084 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year. The median household income here is $62,917.
How much does it cost to live in San Antonio per month?
A rough monthly baseline for one person in San Antonio is about $1,270 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare San Antonio with nearby cities

San Antonio vs AustinSan Antonio vs Corpus ChristiSan Antonio vs HoustonSan Antonio vs Fort WorthSan Antonio vs ArlingtonSan Antonio vs Dallas

Nearby cities

Austin, TX 74 miCorpus Christi, TX 130 miHouston, TX 189 miFort Worth, TX 240 miArlington, TX 243 miDallas, TX 252 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.