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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. San Antonio at index 79 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
Premium market, smart picks: while the market trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. San Antonio at index 79 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving a desirable market.
At $1,361/month for rent and a cost index of 79, San Antonio is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. And on balance, income is $62,917. Pretty standard for this type of city. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
Bottom line: San Antonio, TX leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: San Antonio, TX — cost index 79, rent $1,361/mo, income $62,917
1 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San AntonioTX | 79 | $1,361 | Details |
| 2 | SeattleWA | 128 | $2,187 | Details |
1,495,295 residents · Texas
What does daily life actually cost in San Antonio? Start with the 26% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. And for many people, on the category level, Housing (index 79) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 96) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. That alone makes it worth considering. Income at $62,917 — we had to double-check this one — and homes at $247,132 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
755,078 residents · Washington
Seattle earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 128 cost index sits 17 points above the national baseline, and the $121,984 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $848,869 — $381,499 above the national median, reflecting the metro premium. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 106, while Housing trails at 128.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
San Antonio (ranked #1) has a cost index of 79 and rent of $1,361/mo, while Seattle (ranked #2) has a cost index of 128 and rent of $2,187/mo — a 49-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in San Antonio is $1,361/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $534 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in San Antonio is $247,132, which is 3.9× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.