San Antonio vs San Francisco
Cost of Living (2026)

San Antonio is 157% less expensive than San Francisco. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs California's 9.3%.

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At a glance

San Antonio, TX

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

San Francisco, CA

COL index224
State income tax9.3%
Avg 1BR rent$3,600/mo
Median home price$1350K

Cost breakdown by category

CategorySan Antonio indexSan Francisco indexDifference
Housing112 ✓297+185%
Groceries83 ✓209+126%
Transportation85 ✓205+120%
Healthcare85 ✓215+130%
Utilities86 ✓193+107%

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

Salary equivalency: San Antonio → San Francisco

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

Salary in San AntonioEquivalent in San FranciscoDifference
$60,000$178,000+$118,000
$80,000$237,000+$157,000
$100,000$297,000+$197,000
$130,000$386,000+$256,000
$150,000$445,000+$295,000
$200,000$593,000+$393,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between San Antonio, TX and San Francisco, CA, San Antonio comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 87 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 157%.

State income tax impact

Texas has no state income tax, giving San Antonio workers an immediate 9.3% take-home pay advantage over San Francisco workers who pay California's 9.3% state income tax.

Housing costs

The median home price in San Antonio is $260,000, compared to $1,350,000 in San Francisco. Average 1-bedroom rent is $1,100/month in San Antonio versus $3,600/month in San Francisco.

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