Living Cost Compare
Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT versus $1,280 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,800 in Provo, UT and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,009
$1,052
+4% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$978
$1,084
+11% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,128
$1,327
+18% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,381
$1,545
+12% in San Antonio, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$437,100
$219,700
+50% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$62,800
$62,917
+0% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,010
$47,010
+2% in Provo, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
23.7 yr
34.6 yr
+10.9 yr in San Antonio, TX
Homeownership
39.9%
52.4%
+12.5 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
45.0%
28.7%
+16.3 pp in Provo, UT
Avg Commute
18.5 min
24.6 min
+6.1 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
205.7
605.7
+194% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
1,280.6
4,665.7
+264% 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
53.4°F
68.5°F
+15.1°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
19.8 in
34.9 in
+15.1 in in San Antonio, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.58/gal
+16% in Provo, UT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) 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
15.9
+19% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.84
$31.89
+169% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Provo, UT
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Provo, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in San Antonio, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Provo, UT
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Provo, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (UT / TX)
6.1%
6.25%
+0.2 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
4.50%
None
+4.5 pp in UT

Provo vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Provo or San Antonio?
Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below San Antonio, TX's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Provo than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Provo or San Antonio?
Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).