CostIndexUSA

Mesa, AZ vs San Antonio, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AZ
Mesa
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent
More AffordableTX
San Antonio
94.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

San Antonio is moderately cheaper than Mesa — 8.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Mesa, you would need $73,300 in San Antonio. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing21.9%
Mesa
121.2
San Antonio
94.6
🛒 Groceries1.3%
Mesa
95
San Antonio
93.8
🚗 Transportation7.4%
Mesa
109.2
San Antonio
101.1
🏥 Healthcare7.5%
Mesa
98.8
San Antonio
91.4
Utilities11.9%
Mesa
93.3
San Antonio
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Antonio, TX
$73,300
$6,700 less needed in San Antonio

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9167. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Mesa, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

San Antonio, TX

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

Mesa has 21.9% lower housing costs compared to San Antonio.

Income & Job Market

Mesa, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
518,012
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareRetailManufacturingAerospace

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).

Mesa, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.