Median rent is 2% lower in Columbus ($1,295/mo vs $1,324/mo). Buying is cheaper in San Antonio, where the median home runs $235,700 versus $252,900. Households earn more in Columbus ($66,082 vs $65,056 a year). Taken together, San Antonio is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 94.3 against 94.6 — about 0% lower overall prices.
City A
Columbus, OH
City B
San Antonio, TX
How much would you need to earn in San Antonio, TX to maintain your standard of living from Columbus, OH?
Equivalent salary in San Antonio, TX
$74,761
You could earn $239 less (0% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Columbus
Ohio
San Antonio
Texas
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,295/mo in Columbus and $1,324/mo in San Antonio. Median home values are within 7% of each other: $252,900 in Columbus and $235,700 in San Antonio.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Columbus
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Antonio
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Columbus has cleaner air on average: 22.0 AQI (Good) compared to 71.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Columbus if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 22.0).
Is Columbus cheaper than San Antonio?
San Antonio is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 94.3 versus 94.6 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in San Antonio.
How much is rent in Columbus vs San Antonio?
Median rent is $1,295/mo in Columbus, OH and $1,324/mo in San Antonio, TX. Columbus, OH has the lower rent by about 2%.
Which has higher salaries — Columbus or San Antonio?
Median household income is $66,082 in Columbus, OH and $65,056 in San Antonio, TX. Columbus, OH has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Columbus, OH has better air quality on average: 22.0 AQI versus 71.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Columbus or San Antonio?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in San Antonio to match my Columbus income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Columbus, OH is equivalent to roughly $99,681 in San Antonio, TX (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
