CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs San Antonio, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableTX
San Antonio
94.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

San Antonio is slightly cheaper than Austin — 3.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $77,200 in San Antonio. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing21.4%
Austin
120.4
San Antonio
94.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Austin
93.8
San Antonio
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Austin
101.1
San Antonio
101.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Austin
91.4
San Antonio
91.4
Utilities≈ Equal
Austin
82
San Antonio
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Antonio, TX
$77,200
$2,800 less needed in San Antonio

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 0.9653. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
120.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.6×

San Antonio, TX

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

Austin has 21.4% lower housing costs compared to San Antonio.

Income & Job Market

Austin, TX

Median Household Income
$98,500
Per Capita Income
$56,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
978,908
Top Industries
TechnologyGovernmentHealthcareEducationEntertainment

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).

Austin, TX
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.