Living Cost Compare
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Louisville, KY versus $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 3% higher in Louisville, KY. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$786
$1,052
+34% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$877
$1,084
+24% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,096
$1,327
+21% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,299
$1,545
+19% in San Antonio, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,500
$219,700
+1% in Louisville, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$64,731
$62,917
+3% in Louisville, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,370
$47,010
+3% in Louisville, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.7 yr
34.6 yr
+3.1 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
60.6%
52.4%
+8.2 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.4%
28.7%
+4.7 pp in Louisville, KY
Avg Commute
22.7 min
24.6 min
+1.9 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
761.5
605
+21% in Louisville, KY
Property Crime
3,535.4
4,665
+32% 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
58.2°F
68.5°F
+10.3°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
44.9 in
34.9 in
+10.0 in in Louisville, KY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$3.96/gal
+9% in Louisville, KY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$1.30
+26% in Louisville, KY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
16.4
+10% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.12
$24.61
+29% 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 (KY / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
3.50%
None
+3.5 pp in KY

Louisville vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or San Antonio?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below San Antonio, TX's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or San Antonio?
Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).