Living Cost Compare
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT versus $1,280 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,771 in New Haven, CT and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 15% 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.

New Haven, CT
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,159
$1,052
+9% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$1,084
+15% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,473
$1,327
+10% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,636
$1,545
+6% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$249,000
$219,700
+12% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$53,771
$62,917
+17% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,060
$47,010
+22% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
34.6 yr
+2.7 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
28.4%
52.4%
+24.0 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
28.7%
+9.0 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
21.0 min
24.6 min
+3.6 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
536.3
605.7
+13% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
3,601.6
4,665.7
+30% 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
52.2°F
68.5°F
+16.3°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
47.1 in
34.9 in
+12.3 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.58/gal
+9% in New Haven, 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 New Haven, 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 New Haven, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in San Antonio, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in New Haven, 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

New Haven vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Haven or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Haven 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 New Haven versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, New Haven or San Antonio?
New Haven 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).