San Antonio, Texas
Living in San Antonio, Texas is about 8% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 92 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,415 a month, 27% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.45 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 41% of the area's $70,571 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.45
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,415
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$12.50
Combo meal
Electricity
15.91¢
per kWh · ~$143/mo
Car Insurance
$240/mo
$2,880/yr
Median Household Income
$70,571
41.3% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $2,880 in San Antonio. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,415/mo in San Antonio. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
USDA national avg
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
Whole milk
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
White sandwich bread
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
80/20 blend
$6.79 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
Boneless skinless
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Regular Gasoline
State average per gallon
$3.62 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular GasolineState average per gallonLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | +12.0% since 2022 |
| Eggs (dozen)USDA national avg | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)Whole milk | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Bread (loaf)White sandwich bread | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Ground Beef (lb)80/20 blend | — | — | — | — | — | $4.55 | $6.79 | +354.4% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)Boneless skinless | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$12.50
Casual Dining
$24.40
Monthly Spend
$367.32
+5.35% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's Big Mac
2022: $5.15
$7.17
+39.2%Chipotle Burrito Bowl
2022: $9.25
$12.31
+33.1%Starbucks Latte
2022: $5.45
$6.71
+23.1%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in San Antonio?
Average 1BR: $1,160/mo · 2BR: $1,670/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
932k
Median Weekly Pay
$1,267
$66k/yr
Top Sector
Trade, Transportation & Utilities
Household vs Worker Pay
$71k
household median
Employment by Sector — San Antonio
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$55k/yr
~$59k/yr
~$80k/yr
~$29k/yr
~$102k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 48029
Highest Paying Sector
Financial Activities
$1,967/wk · $102k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$551/wk · $29k/yr
San Antonio Cost of Living FAQ
Is San Antonio, TX expensive to live in?
San Antonio has a cost of living index of 92, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 8% cheaper than average. It is the 4th most affordable of the 29 Texas cities we track.
What is the average rent in San Antonio, TX?
Typical rent in San Antonio is $1,415 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 27% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,160 and two bedrooms about $1,670. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in San Antonio?
Rent in San Antonio fell 0.8% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in San Antonio?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.45 a gallon in San Antonio as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Texas. That is 13% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in San Antonio?
Homes in Texas pay an average of 15.9 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in San Antonio is about $143.
How much is car insurance in San Antonio?
Full coverage car insurance averages $2,880 a year in Texas, or about $240 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in San Antonio?
Median household income in the San Antonio area is $70,571 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $29,149 a year, or 41% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does San Antonio compare with the rest of Texas?
Rent in San Antonio is about the same as the $1,412 average across the 29 Texas cities we track, and its cost of living index of 92 compares with a state average of 97.
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