Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,270/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,740 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 23% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$1,052
+37% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,084
+31% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,327
+22% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,545
+1% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$219,700
+48% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$62,917
+23% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$47,010
+8% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
34.6 yr
+0.6 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
46.3%
52.4%
+6.1 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
28.7%
+29.7 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
24.6 min
+2.2 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.5
605
+0% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
3,548.3
4,665
+31% in San Antonio, TX

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
68.5°F
+5.9°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
34.9 in
+14.9 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$3.96/gal
+8% in Atlanta, GA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.30
+48% in Atlanta, GA

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs VIA Metropolitan Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
16.4
+9% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.41
$24.61
+34% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

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

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / TX)
4%
6.25%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
None
+5.2 pp in GA

Atlanta vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or San Antonio?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).