Is it cheaper to live in Reno or San Antonio?

San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Reno 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 Reno versus $43,000 in San Antonio.

Which has lower taxes, Reno or San Antonio?

Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Reno vs San Antonio Cost of Living 2026

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

San Antonio

Texas

$1,290/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Reno, NV versus $1,290 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,448 in Reno, NV and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 20% higher in Reno, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Reno, NV

San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio

$964

$1,052

+9% in San Antonio, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,206

$1,084

+10% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,518

$1,327

+13% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,885

$1,545

+18% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$498,600

$219,700

+56% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$78,448

$62,917

+20% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,660

$47,010

+5% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.3 yr

34.6 yr

+2.7 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

49.4%

52.4%

+3.0 pp in San Antonio, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.7%

28.7%

+7.0 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

20.6 min

24.6 min

+4.0 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

528.9

605.7

+15% in San Antonio, TX

Property Crime

2,489.3

4,665.7

+87% 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

53.8°F

68.5°F

+14.7°F in San Antonio, TX

Annual Precipitation

7.4 in

34.9 in

+27.5 in in San Antonio, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.62/gal

+29% in Reno, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.30

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.6

16.4

+21% in San Antonio, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.09

$30.48

+152% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in San Antonio, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / TX)

6.85%

6.25%

+0.6 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Reno vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Reno or San Antonio?: San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Reno 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 Reno versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Reno or San Antonio?: Reno is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).