CostTrek

Cost of living

San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas

97
Overall cost index
US = 100
$1,250
Median 1-bedroom rent
3%
3% below the US average

In plain terms: San Antonio is about 3% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,250/month.

Cities in United States

Category breakdown

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

  • Housing946%
  • Food & groceries955%
  • Transport101+1%
  • Utilities102+2%
  • Healthcare973%
  • Goods & services973%

About

Alamo City

Big, affordable and rich in Tex-Mex culture with no state income tax — hot and car-oriented.

Currency
US dollar · USD
Languages
English
Coordinates
29.42, -98.49
Emergency
911

What things cost

1-bed, city centre$1,250 /mo
1-bed, outside centre$1,000 /mo
Inexpensive meal$15
Monthly transit pass$38
Utilities (85 m²)$170 /mo
Internet, 100 Mbps$60 /mo

Taxes

37%

Income tax

progressive

0%

VAT / sales

7.65%

Social (employee)

21%

Corporate

20%

Capital gains

$4,300

Avg net salary

per month

Federal; states add 0–13.3% on top.

Visas & residency

Employment-based (H-1B, L-1, O-1) and family routes; famously hard for the green card.

N/A for immigration; ESTA for short visits from VWP countries.

H-1B specialty workerwork

Lottery-based, employer-sponsored.

Max stay: 73 months

O-1 extraordinary abilitywork

For top talent; no lottery.

Green Card (permanent residence)residence

Citizenship after ~5 yrs. Naturalization after 5 years as LPR (3 if married to citizen).

Quality of life

Safety

55/100

Healthcare

74/100

Pollution

45/100

Internet

200 Mbps

Jan avg

+11 °C

Jul avg

+30 °C

Sunny days

220/yr

Walkability

37/100

Relocation & documents

Coming soon

Where to look

RentZillowBuyRedfinFlightsSkyscannerCoworkingWeWork

Updated: 2026-08-14 · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · National tax authority / OECD (headline figures)

? Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in San Antonio, TX?

San Antonio, TX's cost-of-living index is 97 (US average = 100) — about 3% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $1,250 per month.

What is the average rent in San Antonio, TX?

A one-bedroom in the city centre averages about $1,250 per month, and around $1,000 outside the centre.

What taxes would I pay in United States?

United States has a top income-tax rate of 37% and a VAT or sales tax of 0%. See the taxes section above for the full breakdown.

What is the weather like in San Antonio, TX?

San Antonio, TX averages around +11 °C in January and +30 °C in July, with roughly 220 sunny days a year.

Compare San Antonio with…

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.