Cost of Living in San Antonio, TX
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in San Antonio, TX to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is San Antonio, TX?
With a price level of 94.7 (U.S. average = 100), San Antonio, TX is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 5% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 18% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 4% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in San Antonio, TX vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.7 | −5.3% |
| Housing | 94.6 | −5.4% |
| Goods | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 82.2 | −17.8% |
| Other services | 96.2 | −3.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in San Antonio, TX
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,073 | $42,920/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,171 | $46,840/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,419 | $56,760/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,823 | $72,920/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,109 | $84,360/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in San Antonio, TX
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in San Antonio, TX | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,900 | $32,633 |
| $60,000 | $56,800 | $47,819 |
| $80,000 | $75,800 | $62,155 |
| $100,000 | $94,700 | $75,451 |
| $150,000 | $142,100 | $108,391 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Texas 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning San Antonio, TX's median wage of $47,010 takes home about $3,329 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,171, which is 35% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,158 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in San Antonio, TX
- Federal income tax$3,461
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,915
- Medicare (1.45%)$682
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,953
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in San Antonio, TX
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Texas cities
Half of Texas’s 14,071,160 workers earn less than $48,620 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $35,370–$77,840 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Austin, TX stretches a paycheck furthest, while McAllen, TX is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | $51,440 | 103.1 | $1,586 | 44% | $2,040 | $42,208 |
| Houston, TX | $49,410 | 98.6 | $1,316 | 38% | $2,174 | $42,463 |
| Austin, TX | $56,950 | 98.1 | $1,562 | 39% | $2,433 | $48,885 |
| San Antonio, TX | $47,010 | 94.7 | $1,171 | 35% | $2,158 | $42,181 |
| El Paso, TX | $39,510 | 89.9 | $1,012 | 36% | $1,815 | $37,733 |
| McAllen, TX | $35,830 | 85.9 | $847 | 33% | $1,734 | $36,055 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $45,350 | 92.7 | $1,115 | 35% | $2,103 | $41,673 |
| Lubbock, TX | $42,130 | 91.3 | $974 | 32% | $2,029 | $39,458 |
| Beaumont, TX | $48,630 | 90.0 | $898 | 26% | $2,540 | $45,815 |
| Brownsville, TX | $36,490 | 86.0 | $866 | 33% | $1,759 | $36,638 |
| Killeen, TX | $46,660 | 91.1 | $982 | 30% | $2,324 | $43,532 |
| College Station, TX | $44,470 | 91.0 | $1,082 | 34% | $2,077 | $41,684 |
| Waco, TX | $46,020 | 92.5 | $966 | 30% | $2,297 | $42,309 |
| Amarillo, TX | $44,580 | 91.8 | $903 | 29% | $2,264 | $41,385 |
| Midland, TX | $54,480 | 95.8 | $1,449 | 38% | $2,381 | $47,978 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
San Antonio, TX vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio, TX | 94.7 | $1,171 | $47,010 | 1,126,880 |
| San Jose, CA | 110.4 | $2,957 | $84,050 | 1,134,970 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 100.2 | $1,478 | $46,670 | 1,136,960 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 94.7 | $1,058 | $49,650 | 1,114,490 |
| Columbus, OH | 95.5 | $1,179 | $51,340 | 1,105,580 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 95.7 | $1,242 | $49,340 | 1,105,170 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 95.4 | $1,043 | $50,170 | 1,101,030 |
Frequently asked questions
Is San Antonio, TX expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area are 94.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 94.6%. It is the #173 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in San Antonio, TX?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $56,830 in San Antonio, TX (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,010.
Can you afford San Antonio, TX on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,010 median wage takes home about $3,329 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,171 would take 35% of that.
How much is rent in San Antonio, TX?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for San Antonio, TX are $1,073 for a studio, $1,171 for one bedroom, $1,419 for two bedrooms and $1,823 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in San Antonio, TX
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $163,490
- Financial Manager — $144,710
- Marketing Manager — $131,800
- Managers, All Other — $130,900
- Sales Manager — $124,750
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $119,870
- General and Operations Manager — $99,790
- Construction Manager — $98,450
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Management Analyst — $95,760
- Project Management Specialist — $92,130
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $82,130
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $81,830
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $79,550
- Accountant and Auditor — $78,650
- Human Resources Specialist — $72,930
- Compliance Officer — $67,050
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $128,430
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $110,440
- Computer Systems Analyst — $100,840
- Computer User Support Specialist — $57,400
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $59,090
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $56,670
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $137,690
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $53,300
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $62,230
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,050
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,840
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $61,720
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $34,210
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $29,100
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $94,370
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $62,280
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $61,010
- Pharmacy Technician — $47,050
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $45,920
- Medical Assistant — $39,180
- Nursing Assistant — $36,800
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $25,960
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $73,860
- Firefighter — $63,360
- Security Guard — $35,270
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,850
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,860
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,390
- Cooks, Fast Food — $30,110
- Dishwasher — $29,850
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,110
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,810
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,640
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $35,630
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $34,540
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $29,560
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $29,440
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $27,430
Sales and Related Occupations
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $74,420
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $62,110
- Insurance Sales Agent — $51,450
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $50,610
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,380
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $35,940
- Retail Salesperson — $30,960
- Cashier — $29,800
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $63,850
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $56,040
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk — $55,910
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $48,150
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $43,750
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $43,440
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $43,340
- Customer Service Representative — $42,720
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $73,520
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $58,180
- Electrician — $57,010
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $48,750
- Construction Laborer — $39,390
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $75,790
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $60,760
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $58,590
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $46,880
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $45,380
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $70,500
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $48,220
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $47,040
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $41,910
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $38,210
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,390
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $53,650
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,340
- Light Truck Driver — $41,600
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,470
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,360
- Bus Drivers, School — $36,780
- Driver/Sales Worker — $35,180