San Antonio vs Austin
Cost of Living (2026)

San Antonio is 26% less expensive than Austin.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

San Antonio, TX

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

Austin, TX

COL index110
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$1,650/mo
Median home price$520K

Cost breakdown by category

CategorySan Antonio indexAustin indexDifference
Housing112 ✓144+32%
Groceries83 ✓104+21%
Transportation85 ✓105+20%
Healthcare85 ✓107+22%
Utilities86 ✓104+18%

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

Salary equivalency: San Antonio → Austin

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

Salary in San AntonioEquivalent in AustinDifference
$60,000$76,000+$16,000
$80,000$101,000+$21,000
$100,000$126,000+$26,000
$130,000$164,000+$34,000
$150,000$190,000+$40,000
$200,000$253,000+$53,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between San Antonio, TX and Austin, TX, San Antonio comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 87 versus 110 for Austin — a difference of approximately 26%.

State income tax impact

Both Texas and Texas have no state income tax, so that factor is neutral in this comparison.

Housing costs

The median home price in San Antonio is $260,000, compared to $520,000 in Austin. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,100/month in San Antonio versus $1,650/month in Austin.

San Antonio vs Houston →San Antonio vs Dallas →San Antonio vs Fort Worth →San Antonio vs El Paso →San Antonio vs Arlington →San Antonio vs Corpus Christi →