San Antonio, TX Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for San Antonio, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
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Salary needed to live in San Antonio →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
San Antonio counts roughly 1,445,662 residents, and the median household brings in $59,593 annually — -17% relative to the cities in our dataset, putting incomes here below the pack.
In San Antonio, the median home is valued at $198,000 — below the median across the cities we track (-39%) — and typical rent runs $1,189 a month. Factor in mortgage rates and property taxes when sizing up whether buying pencils out.
The ratio of median home value to median household income in San Antonio — roughly 3.3× — signals relatively affordable housing relative to local pay. San Antonio's home prices have stayed largely flat, rising just 0.53% from a year earlier. Natural-hazard exposure in San Antonio is rated Relatively High by FEMA, on the elevated end — something to check with insurers before buying.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,189/mo in San Antonio would take 23.9% of your income.
$301/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($198,000) would take 21.3% of your income toward principal & interest.
$333/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in San Antonio
Median home value is $198,000 and median gross rent is $1,189/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Bexar rose 0.53% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,426/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates San Antonio's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
San Antonio reported a violent crime rate of 532.4 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to San Antonio
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Cost estimates for moving between San Antonio and nearby popular destinations:
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in San Antonio, TX?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts San Antonio's median home value at $198,000, median rent at $1,189/month, and median household income at $59,593.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in San Antonio?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in San Antonio, where median rent runs $1,189/month, you'd want to earn about $47,560 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for San Antonio.
- Is it better to rent or buy in San Antonio?
- Buying at San Antonio's median home value of $198,000 takes about $45,301 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $47,560 a year to comfortably rent at the median $1,189/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is San Antonio safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 532.4 per 100,000 residents in San Antonio.
See the full salary breakdown for San Antonio →
Compare San Antonio to similar cities
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of San Antonio's.