Living Cost Compare
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Norman, OK versus $1,290 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Norman, OK is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,060 in Norman, OK and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 3% higher in Norman, OK. Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$820
$1,052
+28% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$863
$1,084
+26% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,056
$1,327
+26% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,377
$1,545
+12% in San Antonio, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$239,300
$219,700
+8% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$65,060
$62,917
+3% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,230
$47,010
+0% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.6 yr
34.6 yr
+3.0 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
52.7%
52.4%
+0.3 pp in Norman, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
28.7%
+17.5 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
22.2 min
24.6 min
+2.4 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
268.6
605.7
+126% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
2,294.1
4,665.7
+103% 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
61.5°F
68.5°F
+7.0°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
36.5 in
34.9 in
+1.7 in in Norman, OK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Norman, OK

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.30

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
16.4
+23% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.15
$30.48
+12% 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 (OK / TX)
4.5%
6.25%
+1.8 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
None
+4.5 pp in OK

Norman vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Norman or San Antonio?
Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below San Antonio, TX's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Norman 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 Norman versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Norman or San Antonio?
Norman is taxed under Oklahoma's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).