✦ Cost of living
San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
US = 100
Metro median gross rent: $1,342/mo · U.S. Census ACS 2023
In plain terms: San Antonio is about 6% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,250/month.
▤ Category breakdown
Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.
- Housing91−9%
- Food & groceries92−8%
- Transport98−2%
- Utilities99−1%
- Healthcare94−6%
- Goods & services94−6%
Is San Antonio expensive?
Not really — San Antonio indexes at 94 against a US average of 100, so a month here lands within a few percent of a typical US city. Expect the surprises in individual lines rather than in the total.
Of the 87 cities we track, San Antonio ranks #59 by overall cost — 28 of them are cheaper.
What a month in San Antonio costs
One person
$2,800/mo
A one-bedroom outside the centre, modest everyday spending.
Couple
$3,900/mo
A one-bedroom in the centre, two adults sharing the bills.
Family of four
$6,640/mo
A three-bedroom in the centre, two adults and two children.
| Monthly line | One person | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,000 | $1,250 | $2,200 |
| Food & groceries | $420 | $620 | $1,030 |
| Transport | $590 | $860 | $1,450 |
| Utilities | $200 | $300 | $500 |
| Healthcare | $260 | $390 | $650 |
| Goods & services | $330 | $480 | $810 |
| Total per month | $2,800 | $3,900 | $6,640 |
Estimates, not quotes. Rent comes from this city's own figures; every other line is a US-average household basket (shaped by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey) scaled by this city's category index. Your own total moves with the neighbourhood, your habits and whether you run a car. How we calculate these figures →
Good to know before you move to San Antonio
Big, affordable and rich in Tex-Mex culture with no state income tax — hot and car-oriented.
- Currency
- US dollar ($ USD)
- Languages
- English
- Time zone
- UTC-6
- Internet
- 200 Mbps
- English
- Native language
- Safety
- 55/100
- Climate
- ❄ 11°C · ☀ 30°C · 220 sunny days/yr
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Power
- A/B · 120V
- Driving
- Right-hand side
- Popular areas
- Pearl · Southtown · Alamo Heights
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
Housing
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.
Lottery-based, employer-sponsored.
Max stay: 73 months
For top talent; no lottery.
Citizenship after ~5 yrs. Naturalization after 5 years as LPR (3 if married to citizen).
Quality of life
Quality of life
58/100
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
Public transit
38/100
Family-friendly
64/100
Living there
- English spoken
- Native
- Expat community
- Medium
- Coworking spaces
- 25
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Private health insurance
- $450/mo
Popular areas
Relocation & documents
Where to look
Updated: · Sources: Cost/quality survey (placeholder) · Economy: World Bank Open Data (GDP per capita, life expectancy, inflation) · Minimum wage (EU + Türkiye): Eurostat earn_mw_cur, 2026-S2 · Taxes: national tax authority / OECD (headline figures)
Can you live in San Antonio without a car?
37/100
Car-free score
37/100
Walkability
38/100
Public transport
Partly — San Antonio scores 37/100. Central neighbourhoods work without a car, but move out to the cheaper suburbs and you will want one for commuting and shopping. Budget for a car, or pay the centre's rent premium.
Transport in San Antonio indexes at 98 against a US average of 100 — about 2% cheaper than a typical US city. That line covers fares, fuel and running a vehicle, so it is the one that moves most when you drop the car.
San Antonio ranks #85 of 87 cities we track for walkability. See the most walkable cities →
The car-free score is our own composite: 60% walkability, 40% public transport, both on a 0–100 scale. Like the rest of our quality-of-life figures, they are calibrated estimates, not official statistics.
Cost of living in San Antonio — in your currency
- 1-bed rent, city centre$1,250
- 1-bed rent, outside centre$1,000
- Inexpensive meal$15
- Monthly transit pass$38
- Utilities (monthly)$170
Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).
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? Frequently asked questions
Is San Antonio, TX expensive to live in?
San Antonio, TX's cost-of-living index is 94 (US average = 100) — about 6% cheaper than a typical US city — and it ranks #59 of the 87 cities we track. On our estimates one person needs around $2,800 a month and a family of four around $6,640, rent included.
How much does it cost to live in San Antonio, TX?
San Antonio, TX's cost-of-living index is 94 (US average = 100) — about 6% cheaper than a typical US city. A one-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around $1,250 per month.
What are the average living costs in San Antonio, TX?
Living costs in San Antonio, TX are about 6% cheaper than the US average — its cost-of-living index is 94 (US = 100). Monthly living expenses scale with that, and housing is the biggest line: a one-bedroom in the centre runs around $1,250. See the category breakdown above for where the money goes.
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.
Is San Antonio, TX safe?
San Antonio, TX scores 55 out of 100 on our safety index, where higher means safer.
Can you live in San Antonio, TX without a car?
San Antonio, TX scores 37/100 on our car-free score — 37/100 for walkability and 38/100 for public transport. The higher the score, the more of daily life you can cover on foot or by transit instead of paying to run a car.
❖ Compare San Antonio with…
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.