Is it cheaper to live in Salem or San Antonio?

Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below San Antonio, TX's $1,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Salem versus $43,000 in San Antonio.

Which has lower taxes, Salem or San Antonio?

Salem 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).

Salem vs San Antonio Cost of Living 2026

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR versus $1,290 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Salem, OR is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,900 in Salem, OR and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 12% higher in Salem, 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.

Salem, OR

San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio

$1,075

$1,052

+2% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$989

$1,084

+10% in San Antonio, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,337

$1,327

+1% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,778

$1,545

+13% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$382,400

$219,700

+43% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$71,900

$62,917

+12% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$55,310

$47,010

+15% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

34.6 yr

+1.1 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

55.7%

52.4%

+3.3 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.4%

28.7%

+2.7 pp in Salem, OR

Avg Commute

22.4 min

24.6 min

+2.2 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

540.6

605.7

+12% in San Antonio, TX

Property Crime

2,878.6

4,665.7

+62% 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

53.0°F

68.5°F

+15.5°F in San Antonio, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.7 in

34.9 in

+4.8 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.62/gal

+29% in Salem, OR

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)

16.3

16.4

+1% in San Antonio, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$30.48

+48% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in San Antonio, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Salem, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Salem, 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

Salem vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Salem or San Antonio?: Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below San Antonio, TX's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Salem than in San Antonio?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Salem versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Salem or San Antonio?: Salem 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).