Living Cost Compare
Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,290/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,290 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 23% higher in San Antonio, TX. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Newark, NJ
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,111
$1,052
+5% in Newark, NJ
1 Bedroom
$978
$1,084
+11% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,386
$1,327
+4% in Newark, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,695
$1,545
+9% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$337,800
$219,700
+35% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$48,416
$62,917
+30% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$47,010
+23% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
34.6 yr
+0.2 yr in Newark, NJ
Homeownership
24.1%
52.4%
+28.3 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
17.4%
28.7%
+11.3 pp in San Antonio, TX
Avg Commute
33.2 min
24.6 min
+8.6 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
582.5
605.7
+4% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
1,961.8
4,665.7
+138% 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
54.9°F
68.5°F
+13.6°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
46.3 in
34.9 in
+11.4 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Newark, NJ

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)
23.3
16.4
+29% in Newark, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.93
$30.48
+91% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / TX)
6.625%
6.25%
+0.4 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
None
+10.8 pp in NJ

Newark vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or San Antonio?
Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below San Antonio, TX's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or San Antonio?
Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).