CostIndexUSA

Arlington, TX vs San Antonio, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Arlington
103.1
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableTX
San Antonio
94.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

San Antonio is moderately cheaper than Arlington — 8.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Arlington, you would need $73,500 in San Antonio. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing19.8%
Arlington
117.9
San Antonio
94.6
🛒 Groceries8.8%
Arlington
102.8
San Antonio
93.8
🚗 Transportation3.4%
Arlington
104.7
San Antonio
101.1
🏥 Healthcare3.5%
Arlington
94.7
San Antonio
91.4
Utilities9.4%
Arlington
90.7
San Antonio
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Arlington to see what you'd need to earn in San Antonio to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in San Antonio, TX
$73,500
$6,500 less needed in San Antonio

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 103.1) = salary × 0.9185. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Arlington, TX

Median Home Price
$450,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
117.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.1×

San Antonio, TX

Median Home Price
$274,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
94.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Arlington has 19.8% lower housing costs compared to San Antonio.

Income & Job Market

Arlington, TX

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
394,266
Top Industries
EntertainmentManufacturingTechnologyHealthcareFinance

San Antonio, TX

Median Household Income
$73,200
Per Capita Income
$41,700
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
1,434,625
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareTourismManufacturingGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Arlington, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

San Antonio, TX
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.