Cost of living in San Antonio, TX
Livability score 75 · cost-of-living index 94.3 (US = 100)
How San Antonio compares
Where San Antonio falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Map of San Antonio
Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 94.3 | metro-area | #87 of 200 |
| Grocery index (US=100) | 92.9 | metro-area | #1 of 200 |
| Big Mac price (est.) | $5.37 | metro-area | #87 of 200 |
| Median household income | $70,910 | metro-area | #100 of 200 |
| Median wage (all occupations) | $38,358 | metro-area | #122 of 200 |
Who lives here
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 years | metro-area | #38 of 200 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 31.9% | metro-area | #113 of 200 |
| Foreign-born residents | 11.8% | metro-area | #61 of 200 |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 63.5% | metro-area | #137 of 200 |
Economy
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 5.24% | metro-area | #108 of 200 |
| Population growth (5-yr) | +8.1% | metro-area | #40 of 200 |
Housing — what your money buys
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $280,297 | metro-area | #65 of 200 |
| Home price ÷ income (affordability) | 4.0× | metro-area | #54 of 200 |
| 1-yr home appreciation | -1.9% | metro-area | #171 of 200 |
| Price per square foot | $134 | metro-area | #49 of 200 |
| Typical home size (implied) | 2,100 sqft | ||
| Median rent (monthly) | $1,404 | metro-area | #54 of 200 |
| Homes for sale (inventory) | 14,107 | ||
| Median days on market | 38 | metro-area | #177 of 200 |
Taxes
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total tax burden (est. % of income) | 8.6% | state | #9 of 200 |
| Combined sales tax | 8.20% | state | #116 of 200 |
| State income tax (top rate) | None | ||
| Capital gains tax | None | state | #1 of 200 |
| High earners | No special surtax | ||
| Social Security in retirement | Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else | ||
| Effective property tax rate | 1.74% | metro-area | #172 of 200 |
| Median property tax paid | $4,086 | metro-area | #158 of 200 |
Health & childcare
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.5 years | metro-area | #100 of 200 |
| Healthcare (annual, single adult) | $6,800 | state | #93 of 200 |
| Uninsured (share of residents) | 17.3% | metro-area | #186 of 200 |
| Primary care providers per 100k | 67 | metro-area | #147 of 200 |
| Childcare (annual, infant, center) | $9,500 | state | #37 of 200 |
Vehicles & commute
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual registration | $75 | state | #46 of 200 |
| Vehicle property tax (annual) | None | state | #1 of 200 |
| Emissions testing | Required | ||
| Emissions detail | Required in major metro counties (Travis, Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, etc.) | ||
| DMV & license offices | 23 | ||
| Avg commute to work | 27 min | metro-area | #153 of 200 |
| Commute by driving alone | 71.5% | metro-area | #53 of 200 |
| Solo drivers commuting 30+ min | 39.6% | metro-area | #163 of 200 |
Utilities & fuel
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 17.0¢/kWh | state | #90 of 200 |
| Avg monthly electric bill | $153 | state | #90 of 200 |
| Gasoline | $3.00/gal | state | #24 of 200 |
| Natural gas (avg monthly bill) | $52 | state | #23 of 200 |
| Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) | $134 | state | #142 of 200 |
| Home internet (avg monthly bill) | $83 | state | #135 of 200 |
Insurance
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home insurance (annual) | $3,600 | state | #164 of 200 |
| Auto insurance (annual) | $2,100 | state | #126 of 200 |
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main natural hazards | Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, wildfire — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. | ||
| FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) | 95.8 — Relatively High | metro-area | #155 of 200 |
| Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) | $900 | state | #152 of 200 |
| Earthquake insurance (annual) | $100 | state | #1 of 200 |
Climate & air quality
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) | 53 | metro-area | #157 of 200 |
| Cooling degree-days (AC load) | 3,000 | metro-area | #162 of 200 |
| Homes with air conditioning (state) | 95% | state | #27 of 200 |
| Heating degree-days (heat load) | 1,800 | metro-area | #27 of 200 |
| Days per year ≥ 90°F | 111 | metro-area | #191 of 200 |
| Days per year ≥ 100°F | 8 | metro-area | #177 of 200 |
| Avg summer high (state) | 96°F | metro-area | #181 of 200 |
| Avg winter low | 38°F | metro-area | #46 of 200 |
| Annual precipitation | 32.4" | metro-area | #50 of 200 |
| Annual snowfall | 0.2" | metro-area | #50 of 200 |
| Sunshine (% of possible) | 60% | metro-area | #85 of 200 |
| Plant hardiness zone | 8b | ||
| Frost window | 02-25 → 12-01 |
Safety
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) | 430 | state | #111 of 200 |
| Property crime (per 100k, state avg) | 2,400 | state | #131 of 200 |
Local amenities & recreation
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 129 | metro-area | #4 of 200 |
| Parks | 167 | ||
| Hiking areas | 47 | ||
| Golf courses | 48 | ||
| Shooting ranges | 19 | ||
| Lakes | 28 |
Permits
| Metric | Value | Scope | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permit difficulty (1–5) | 2 | state | #1 of 200 |
| Permit detail | Generally easy; rural areas minimal, major cities moderate |
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in San Antonio
Major public and private employers in the San Antonio, TX area.
Salaries by occupation in San Antonio
Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
| Occupation | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Financial Managers | $137,420 |
| Pharmacists | $136,680 |
| Physician Assistants | $130,350 |
| Dentists | $129,480 |
| Lawyers | $129,300 |
| Marketing Managers | $125,290 |
| Software Developers | $124,600 |
| Human Resources Managers | $124,090 |
| Data Scientists | $106,250 |
| Physical Therapists | $101,380 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $99,130 |
| Construction Managers | $96,150 |
| General & Operations Managers | $88,480 |
| Registered Nurses | $83,740 |
| Web Developers | $83,360 |
| Dental Hygienists | $82,800 |
| Civil Engineers | $80,030 |
| Accountants & Auditors | $77,490 |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $69,920 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,000 |
| Graphic Designers | $53,100 |
| Electricians | $50,840 |
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $49,670 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters | $49,500 |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $48,040 |
| Welders, Cutters & Solderers | $47,210 |
| Carpenters | $46,420 |
| Medical Assistants | $37,550 |
Find a job in San Antonio
Cities in the San Antonio area
San Antonio (1,445,662) →New Braunfels (92,993) →Schertz (42,545) →Timberwood Park (34,253) →Cibolo (32,640) →Canyon Lake (32,035) →Seguin (30,318) →Converse (28,052) →Universal City (19,798) →Boerne (18,475) →Live Oak (15,726) →Leon Valley (11,485) →Selma (11,067) →Pleasanton (10,706) →Scenic Oaks (10,059) →
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