San Francisco vs San Antonio
Cost of Living (2026)

San Antonio is 61% more affordable than San Francisco. Plus, Texas has no state income tax vs California's 9.3%.

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At a glance

San Francisco, CA

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

San Antonio, TX

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

Cost breakdown by category

CategorySan Francisco indexSan Antonio indexDifference
Housing297112 ✓-185%
Groceries20983 ✓-126%
Transportation20585 ✓-120%
Healthcare21585 ✓-130%
Utilities19386 ✓-107%

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

Salary equivalency: San Francisco → San Antonio

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

Salary in San FranciscoEquivalent in San AntonioDifference
$60,000$20,000$-40,000
$80,000$27,000$-53,000
$100,000$34,000$-66,000
$130,000$44,000$-86,000
$150,000$51,000$-99,000
$200,000$67,000$-133,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between San Francisco, CA and San Antonio, TX, San Antonio comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 87 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 61%.

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

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