Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 4% higher in San Antonio, TX. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$1,052
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$1,084
+9% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$1,327
+5% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,545
+10% in San Antonio, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$219,700
+5% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$62,917
+4% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$47,010
+13% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
34.6 yr
+0.5 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
52.3%
52.4%
+0.1 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
28.7%
+5.9 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
32.0 min
24.6 min
+7.4 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
916.8
605
+34% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,614.3
4,665
+1% 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
57.1°F
68.5°F
+11.4°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
34.9 in
+13.6 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$3.96/gal
+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.30
+48% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
20.9
16.4
+22% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.67
$24.61
+48% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in San Antonio, TX
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.73
+10% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Philadelphia, PA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.56
+5% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.02
$1.90
+6% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.68
$0.61
+10% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
None
+3.1 pp in PA

Philadelphia vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or San Antonio?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).