CostIndexUSA

Philadelphia, PA vs San Antonio, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Philadelphia
102.6
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordableTX
San Antonio
94.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

San Antonio is moderately cheaper than Philadelphia — 7.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Philadelphia, you would need $73,800 in San Antonio. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.4%
Philadelphia
113.1
San Antonio
94.6
🛒 Groceries3.1%
Philadelphia
96.8
San Antonio
93.8
🚗 Transportation6.6%
Philadelphia
108.2
San Antonio
101.1
🏥 Healthcare6.6%
Philadelphia
97.9
San Antonio
91.4
Utilities28.1%
Philadelphia
114.4
San Antonio
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Antonio, TX
$73,800
$6,200 less needed in San Antonio

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 102.6) = salary × 0.9230. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Philadelphia, PA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
113.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

San Antonio, TX

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

Philadelphia has 16.4% lower housing costs compared to San Antonio.

Income & Job Market

Philadelphia, PA

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
1,603,797
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceTourismManufacturing

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).

Philadelphia, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.