| Index | San Antonio | Texas | National |
| Cost of living | 100 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 83 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 103 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 108 | 98 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in San Antonio? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in San Antonio stands at 100, making it 0% equal to the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in San Antonio closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, houshold expenses, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of San Antonio can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 41 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in San Antonio. The results indicated that 44% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 56% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is San Antonio affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take San Antonio, for instance, where the median home price falls 14.1% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 9.1% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with San Antonio flaunting a median household income of $80,765, 0.7% lower than the national norm.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In San Antonio, the housing index comes in at 7.1% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In San Antonio, the groceries index is 2.1% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In San Antonio, healthcare costs are 3% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for San Antonio shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $103,366 | $8,614 | $2,412 | $3,101 |
| Renters | $57,483 | $4,790 | $1,341 | $1,725 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Texas | 6.25% | 8.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Texas | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Von Ormy, TX | 1,055 | 88 | 11.9% |
| Macdona, TX | 268 | 90 | 9.9% |
| Elmendorf, TX | 1,628 | 94 | 6.3% |
| Kirby, TX | 8,908 | 94 | 5.6% |
| Somerset, TX | 1,890 | 95 | 4.9% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,573,237 | 100 | 0.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Philadelphia, PA | 1,632,157 | 102 | 2.0% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,466,871 | 176 | 76.0% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 1,698,457 | 113 | 12.9% |
| Dallas, TX | 1,391,819 | 107 | 7.0% |
| Calgary, AB | 1,371,990 | n/a | |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,573,237 | 100 | 0.3% |
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