Denver vs San Antonio
Cost of Living (2026)

San Antonio is 26% more affordable than Denver. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs Colorado's 4.55%.

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At a glance

Denver, CO

COL index118
State income tax4.55%
Avg 1BR rent$1,800/mo
Median home price$545K
VS

San Antonio, TX

COL index87 ✓
State income taxNone ✓
Avg 1BR rent$1,100/mo ✓
Median home price$260K ✓

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryDenver indexSan Antonio indexDifference
Housing154112 ✓-42%
Groceries11283 ✓-29%
Transportation11285 ✓-27%
Healthcare11485 ✓-29%
Utilities11086 ✓-24%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost.

Salary equivalency: Denver → San Antonio

What salary in San Antonio gives you the same purchasing power as your Denver salary?

Salary in DenverEquivalent in San AntonioDifference
$60,000$41,000$-19,000
$80,000$55,000$-25,000
$100,000$69,000$-31,000
$130,000$90,000$-40,000
$150,000$103,000$-47,000
$200,000$138,000$-62,000

Denver vs San Antonio: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Denver, CO and San Antonio, TX, San Antonio comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 87 versus 118 for Denver — a difference of approximately 26%.

State income tax impact

Texas has no state income tax, giving San Antonio workers an immediate 4.55% take-home pay advantage over Denver workers who pay Colorado's 4.55% state income tax.

Housing costs

The median home price in Denver is $545,000, compared to $260,000 in San Antonio. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,800/month in Denver versus $1,100/month in San Antonio.

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