Living Cost Compare
Dallas

Texas

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Dallas, TX versus $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 7% higher in Dallas, TX. Both cities are in Texas, so state taxes are identical: no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Dallas, TX
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,259
$1,052
+16% in Dallas, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,280
$1,084
+15% in Dallas, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,500
$1,327
+12% in Dallas, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,559
$1,545
+1% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$295,300
$219,700
+26% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$67,760
$62,917
+7% in Dallas, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$47,010
+9% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
34.6 yr
+1.2 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
42.4%
52.4%
+10.0 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.4%
28.7%
+8.7 pp in Dallas, TX
Avg Commute
26.0 min
24.6 min
+1.4 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
661.7
605
+9% in Dallas, TX
Property Crime
3,411.8
4,665
+37% 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
67.2°F
68.5°F
+1.3°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
37.6 in
34.9 in
+2.7 in in Dallas, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$3.96/gal
about equal

Area: Texas vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.30
+48% in Dallas, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
16.4
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$24.61
about equal

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 (TX / TX)
6.25%
6.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Dallas vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Dallas, TX's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or San Antonio?
Neither — both are in Texas, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).