Seattle vs San Antonio
Cost of Living (2026)

San Antonio is 42% more affordable than Seattle.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

Seattle, WA

COL index150
State income taxNone
Avg 1BR rent$2,200/mo
Median home price$780K
VS

San Antonio, TX

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

Cost breakdown by category

CategorySeattle indexSan Antonio indexDifference
Housing198112 ✓-86%
Groceries14183 ✓-58%
Transportation14085 ✓-55%
Healthcare14585 ✓-60%
Utilities13586 ✓-49%

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

Salary equivalency: Seattle → San Antonio

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

Salary in SeattleEquivalent in San AntonioDifference
$60,000$35,000$-25,000
$80,000$46,000$-34,000
$100,000$58,000$-42,000
$130,000$75,000$-55,000
$150,000$87,000$-63,000
$200,000$116,000$-84,000

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

When comparing the cost of living between Seattle, WA and San Antonio, TX, San Antonio comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 87 versus 150 for Seattle — a difference of approximately 42%.

State income tax impact

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

Housing costs

The median home price in Seattle is $780,000, compared to $260,000 in San Antonio. Average 1-bedroom rent is $2,200/month in Seattle versus $1,100/month in San Antonio.

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