salarySan Antonio is the 2nd-largest city in Texas that we track, with 1,458,954 residents. Rent is lower than in 56% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.5 years of household income.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $53,680 a year. That is $26 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Texas cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Texas. It is number 220 of 420 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
Compare San Antonio with other big cities
Compare San Antonio to 149 other cities →
How much do households earn in San Antonio?
Share of households by yearly income. 19.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in San Antonio
| Size | San Antonio | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,052 | $1,185 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,084 | $1,180 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,327 | $1,338 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,545 | $1,500 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,691 | $1,861 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is San Antonio overall?
Everyday prices in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area are 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.7, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.
Taxes and bills in San Antonio
Life in San Antonio
What jobs pay in San Antonio
| Job | Median pay | Rent / pay |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $146,380 | 11.0% |
| Physician Assistant | $135,120 | 11.9% |
| Lawyer | $134,890 | 11.9% |
| Nurse Practitioner | $125,530 | 12.8% |
| Software Developer | $125,210 | 12.9% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $100,150 | 16.1% |
| Operations Manager | $96,250 | 16.7% |
| Registered Nurse | $87,100 | 18.5% |
| Dental Hygienist | $85,840 | 18.8% |
| Civil Engineer | $84,880 | 19.0% |
| Accountant | $76,790 | 21.0% |
| Police Officer | $71,490 | 22.5% |
| Market Research Analyst | $64,130 | 25.1% |
| Firefighter | $62,660 | 25.7% |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $60,740 | 26.5% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $60,220 | 26.7% |
| Plumber | $58,530 | 27.5% |
| HVAC Technician | $53,770 | 29.9% |
| Electrician | $52,650 | 30.6% |
| Truck Driver | $49,600 | 32.5% |
| Carpenter | $47,670 | 33.8% |
| Customer Service Representative | $41,690 | 38.6% |
| Medical Assistant | $39,970 | 40.3% |
| Warehouse Worker | $36,280 | 44.4% |
| Nursing Assistant | $35,990 | 44.7% |
| Restaurant Cook | $34,650 | 46.5% |
| Retail Salesperson | $30,160 | 53.4% |
| Server (Waiter/Waitress) | $29,120 | 55.3% |
| Cashier | $28,760 | 56.0% |
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in San Antonio?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $182 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $219,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $21,970 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in San Antonio, TX?
People who moved into a rental in San Antonio since 2021 pay a median of $1,342 a month, including utilities. The Texas median is $1,322.
How much do I need to make to live in San Antonio?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $53,680 a year, or $26 an hour at a full-time job.
Is San Antonio cheap or expensive?
San Antonio is rated OK: rent takes 25.6% of the typical household income of $62,917. It ranks 220th cheapest of 420 Texas cities we track.
How much are property taxes in San Antonio?
The median homeowner in San Antonio pays $3,983 a year in property taxes, about 1.81% of the median home value.
Is San Antonio more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in the metro area are 5% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in San Antonio?
The median home value in San Antonio is $219,700, about 3.5 times the typical yearly household income.
1,458,954 people live in San Antonio. Numbers are typical (middle) values.