Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,280 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 11% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$815
$1,052
+29% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$900
$1,084
+20% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,327
+23% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,545
+24% in San Antonio, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$219,700
+16% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$62,917
+11% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$47,010
+9% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
34.6 yr
+1.8 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
52.4%
+5.7 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
28.7%
+17.5 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
24.6 min
+5.3 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
605.7
+25% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
2,395.7
4,665.7
+95% 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
62.1°F
68.5°F
+6.4°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
34.9 in
+19.5 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.58/gal
+1% in Huntsville, AL

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.30

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
15.9
+3% in Huntsville, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$31.89
+33% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / TX)
4%
6.25%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
None
+5.0 pp in AL

Huntsville vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or San Antonio?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below San Antonio, TX's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or San Antonio?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% 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).