Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,550/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 $1,550 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 20% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$1,052
+26% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,084
+21% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,327
+11% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,545
+7% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$219,700
+37% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$62,917
+20% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$47,010
+6% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
34.6 yr
+0.2 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
51.5%
52.4%
+0.9 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
28.7%
+18.7 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
24.6 min
+0.4 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
605
+17% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,719
4,665
+25% 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
59.9°F
68.5°F
+8.6°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
34.9 in
+6.8 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$3.96/gal
+8% in Charlotte, NC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
$1.30
+41% in Charlotte, NC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.0
16.4
+2% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.50
$24.61
+41% 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 (NC / TX)
4.75%
6.25%
+1.5 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
None
+4.0 pp in NC

Charlotte vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Charlotte, NC's $1,550, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or San Antonio?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).