Is it cheaper to live in Portland or San Antonio?

San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in San Antonio?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $43,000 in San Antonio.

Which has lower taxes, Portland or San Antonio?

Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Portland vs San Antonio Cost of Living 2026

Portland

Oregon

$1,600/mo est.

San Antonio

Texas

$1,270/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,600 in Portland, OR versus $1,270 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $88,792 in Portland, OR and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 29% higher in Portland, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Portland, OR

San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio

$1,294

$1,052

+19% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,440

$1,084

+25% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,741

$1,327

+24% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$2,053

$1,545

+25% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$557,600

$219,700

+61% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$88,792

$62,917

+29% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,690

$47,010

+23% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.6 yr

34.6 yr

+4.0 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

52.8%

52.4%

+0.4 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.5%

28.7%

+24.8 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

24.6 min

about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

731.7

605

+17% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

5,605.5

4,665

+17% in Portland, OR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

54.5°F

68.5°F

+14.0°F in San Antonio, TX

Annual Precipitation

42.9 in

34.9 in

+8.0 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

$3.96/gal

+29% in Portland, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.80

$1.30

+54% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

16.4

+10% in San Antonio, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.98

$24.61

+37% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Portland, OR

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / TX)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

None

+9.9 pp in OR

Portland vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or San Antonio?: San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in San Antonio?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or San Antonio?: Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).