Median rent is 3% lower in San Antonio ($1,324/mo vs $1,361/mo). Buying is cheaper in San Antonio, where the median home runs $235,700 versus $277,800. Households earn more in San Antonio ($65,056 vs $64,813 a year). Taken together, San Antonio is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 94.3 against 99.7 — about 5% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in San Antonio, TX.
Cost of living verdict
San Antonio is 5% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 94.3 in San Antonio vs 99.7 in Houston (US national average = 100)
City A
Houston, TX
City B
San Antonio, TX
How much would you need to earn in San Antonio, TX to maintain your standard of living from Houston, TX?
Equivalent salary in San Antonio, TX
$70,935
You could earn $4,065 less (5% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Houston
Texas
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: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,361/mo in Houston and $1,324/mo in San Antonio. Median home values are within 15% of each other: $277,800 in Houston and $235,700 in San Antonio.
Metric
Houston
San Antonio
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Houston
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Antonio
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Houston has cleaner air on average: 59.0 AQI (Moderate) compared to 71.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick San Antonio if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 94.3 vs 99.7).
Pick Houston if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 59.0).
San Antonio is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 94.3 versus 99.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 5% lower in San Antonio.
Median rent is $1,361/mo in Houston, TX and $1,324/mo in San Antonio, TX. San Antonio, TX has the lower rent by about 3%.
Median household income is $64,813 in Houston, TX and $65,056 in San Antonio, TX. San Antonio, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Houston, TX has better air quality on average: 59.0 AQI versus 71.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Houston, TX is equivalent to roughly $94,580 in San Antonio, TX (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
