Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,280/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $1,280 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 28% higher in San Antonio, TX. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$973
$1,052
+8% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$1,084
+4% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$1,327
+2% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,545
+8% in San Antonio, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$219,700
+1% in San Antonio, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$62,917
+39% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$47,010
+22% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
34.6 yr
+1.2 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
25.7%
52.4%
+26.7 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
28.7%
+10.4 pp in San Antonio, TX
Avg Commute
22.8 min
24.6 min
+1.8 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
605.7
+15% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
2,949.2
4,665.7
+58% 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
51.2°F
68.5°F
+17.3°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
34.9 in
+8.7 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.58/gal
+9% in Hartford, CT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.30

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
15.9
+34% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$31.89
+37% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Hartford, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in San Antonio, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / TX)
6.35%
6.25%
+0.1 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
None
+7.0 pp in CT

Hartford vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or San Antonio?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).