Austin vs San Antonio: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Austin's typical home is worth $461,500, 133% higher than the typical home in San Antonio at $198,000.

Median household income is $86,556 in Austin versus $59,593 in San Antonio.

Typical rent runs $1,549 in Austin and $1,189 in San Antonio.

Both cities carry FEMA's "Relatively High" natural-hazard rating.

Metric	Austin, TX	San Antonio, TX
Population	958,202	1,445,662
Median home value	$461,500	$198,000
Median household income	$86,556	$59,593
Median gross rent	$1,549	$1,189
Climate risk (FEMA)	Relatively High	Relatively High

Both home values and rent run lower in San Antonio, TX than in Austin, TX, making it the more affordable of the two on housing alone.

Moving between Austin and San Antonio

Austin and San Antonio are 74 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Austin → San Antonio	San Antonio → Austin
Median rent	−$360/mo (−23%)	+$360/mo (+30%)
Median home value	−$263,500 (−57%)	+$263,500 (+133%)
Median household income	−$26,963 (−31%)	+$26,963 (+45%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$512 – $777
2-3 bedroom	$1,621 – $2,449
4+ bedroom house	$3,032 – $4,573

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Austin, TX San Antonio, TX

85 miles estimated driving distance · 1.4 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$214 – $276

Includes an estimated $30 in fuel (9 gal at ~10 mpg) over 1 driving day.

Professional Movers

$1,245 – $1,924

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.