Living Cost Compare
Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ versus $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 18% higher in Phoenix, AZ. Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Phoenix, AZ
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,052
+7% in Phoenix, AZ
1 Bedroom
$1,253
$1,084
+13% in Phoenix, AZ
2 Bedroom
$1,493
$1,327
+11% in Phoenix, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,771
$1,545
+13% in Phoenix, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$381,900
$219,700
+42% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$77,041
$62,917
+18% in Phoenix, AZ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,380
$47,010
+9% in Phoenix, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
34.6 yr
+0.2 yr in Phoenix, AZ
Homeownership
57.1%
52.4%
+4.7 pp in Phoenix, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
32.3%
28.7%
+3.6 pp in Phoenix, AZ
Avg Commute
25.7 min
24.6 min
+1.1 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
799.6
605
+24% in Phoenix, AZ
Property Crime
2,338.9
4,665
+99% 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
75.1°F
68.5°F
+6.6°F in Phoenix, AZ
Annual Precipitation
8.2 in
34.9 in
+26.7 in in San Antonio, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$3.96/gal
+29% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.30
+35% in Phoenix, AZ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
16.4
+5% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.69
$24.61
+25% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Phoenix, AZ
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Phoenix, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Phoenix, AZ
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Phoenix, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Phoenix, AZ
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Phoenix, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AZ / TX)
5.6%
6.25%
+0.7 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
2.50%
None
+2.5 pp in AZ

Phoenix vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Phoenix or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Phoenix than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Phoenix versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Phoenix or San Antonio?
Phoenix is taxed under Arizona's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).