San Antonio vs Austin
San Antonio, TX · Austin, TX
San Antonio is 32% cheaper than Austin overall.
Home Price
San: $270,000
Austin: $500,000
Monthly Rent
San: $899/mo
Austin: $1,300/mo
COL Index
San: 92
Austin: 121
Median Income
San: $58,600
Austin: $83,800
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in San Antonio has the same purchasing power as $131,522 in Austin — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Austin are 85% cheaper (-$230,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in San Antonio saves you $401/month — $4,812 per year. Median rent: $899/mo in San Antonio vs $1,300/mo in Austin.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, San Antonio owners pay roughly $4,860/year in property taxes vs $9,000/year in Austin. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $58,600 in San Antonio and $83,800 in Austin. San Antonio residents earn 43% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 26 minutes in San Antonio vs 27 minutes in Austin. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from San Antonio to Austin, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in San Antonio | Equivalent in Austin | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $65,761 | +$15,761 |
| $75,000 | $98,641 | +$23,641 |
| $100,000 | $131,522 | +$31,522 |
| $150,000 | $197,283 | +$47,283 |
| $200,000 | $263,043 | +$63,043 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Property Tax Calculator
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San Antonio Calculators
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Related Comparisons
San Antonio vs Austin: Common Questions
Is San Antonio or Austin cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, San Antonio is cheaper overall. San Antonio has a COL index of 92 while Austin scores 121 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between San Antonio and Austin?
The median home price in San Antonio is $270,000 vs $500,000 in Austin — a difference of $230,000 (85%).
What salary do I need in Austin to match my San Antonio income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in San Antonio is equivalent to $131,522 in Austin in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Austin has a lower property tax rate (1.8% vs 1.8%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $4,860/year vs $9,000/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.