Living Cost Compare
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Paterson, NJ versus $1,280 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,766 in Paterson, NJ and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 15% 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.

Paterson, NJ
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$786
$1,052
+34% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$1,084
+8% in Paterson, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,468
$1,327
+10% in Paterson, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,729
$1,545
+11% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$335,400
$219,700
+34% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$53,766
$62,917
+17% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$47,010
+23% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.3 yr
34.6 yr
+1.3 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
26.2%
52.4%
+26.2 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
12.5%
28.7%
+16.2 pp in San Antonio, TX
Avg Commute
23.1 min
24.6 min
+1.5 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,010.1
605.7
+40% in Paterson, NJ
Property Crime
2,391.4
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
52.2°F
68.5°F
+16.3°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
49.0 in
34.9 in
+14.2 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.58/gal
+9% in Paterson, 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)
24.9
15.9
+36% in Paterson, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.68
$31.89
+80% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

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

Paterson vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Paterson than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Paterson or San Antonio?
Paterson 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).