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What it actually costs to live in San Antonio right now.
Every number sourced. Checked this month.
San Antonio is the least expensive of Texas’s big metros, and its rents are falling faster than anywhere else in the big five. The city did raise its tax rate and add a few monthly fees this fall, and water bills go up in January. Here is what it all costs.
Numbers last checked October 31, 2026The numbers
| Topic | What | Cost | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | ||||
| Rent | 1-bedroom, median | $953 | Oct 2026 data | Apartment List |
| Rent | 2-bedroom, median | $1,173 | Oct 2026 data | Apartment List |
| Rent | Change in city median, year over year | −3.5% | Oct 2026 data | Apartment List |
| Rent | 1-bedroom, average (large buildings) | $1,081 | Sep 30, 2026 | RentCafe |
| Rent | 2-bedroom, average (large buildings) | $1,380 | Sep 30, 2026 | RentCafe |
| Buying | ||||
| Home prices | San Antonio area median (about −2%) | $302,999 | Sep 2026 | SABOR |
| Home prices | Bexar County single-family median (−4.8%) | $282,680 | Sep 2026 | SABOR |
| Taxes (property rates per $100) | ||||
| Property tax | City of San Antonio | $0.56288 | FY2027 | City of San Antonio |
| Property tax | Bexar County, including road and flood ($0.285963 + $0.014036), held flat | $0.299999 | Adopted Sep 15, 2026 | Bexar County Tax Office |
| Property tax | University Health (held flat) | $0.276235 | Adopted Sep 2026 | TPR |
| Property tax | Alamo Colleges (up from $0.149) | $0.167 | Adopted Sep 2026 | TPR |
| Sales tax | Combined rate: state 6.25%, city 1.125% (includes Pre-K 4 SA), VIA 0.5%, ATD 0.375%. The ATD share rose and a sports venue tax ended on Jan 1, 2026. | 8.25% | Jan 1, 2026 | Texas Comptroller, Jan 1, 2026 update |
| Bills and getting around | ||||
| Electricity | Average CPS Energy bill (no 2026 base-rate increase as of late Sep) | $191.77 | Sep 28, 2026 | TPR |
| Water | SAWS increase on the average home bill | under $4/mo | Jan 1, 2027 | My Neighborhood News |
| City fees | New parks/environmental fee | $2.25/mo | Oct 1, 2026 | TPR |
| City fees | Trash cart fee increase | +$0.75/mo | Oct 1, 2026 | TPR |
| Transit | VIA regular bus fare | $1.30 | Page updated Aug 31, 2026 | VIA |
| Transit | VIA day / 7-day / 31-day pass | $2.75 / $12 / $38 | Page updated Aug 31, 2026 | VIA |
| Pay and prices | ||||
| Living wage | One adult, no kids (lowest of the big four metros) | $20.33/hr | Feb 15, 2026 | MIT |
| Living wage | Two working adults, two kids (per adult) | $23.41/hr | Feb 15, 2026 | MIT |
| Income | Median household income, city of San Antonio (±$1,375) | $66,176 | 2024 ACS 1-year | Census Reporter |
| Price level | All items vs. U.S. = 100 | 94.7 | 2024 data | BEA via FRED |
School district rate increases for Northside ISD and SAISD were on the November 2026 ballot, so school taxes are not in this table yet. Income is the 2024 Census estimate; 2025 figures came out Oct 29, 2026 and will be added next update.
Area rents
RentCafe averages are all unit sizes in large managed buildings (Sep 2026). Boerne and Seguin are Apartment List medians (Oct 2026 data).
Sources: RentCafe San Antonio; Apartment List San Antonio.
Out-of-date numbers you’ll still find online
$181.10 was the average when CPS last raised base rates in Dec 2023. The current figure comes from TPR, Sep 2026.
The city raised its rate for FY2027, about $36 a year more on a $234,000 homestead (TPR).
Starting Nov 1, 2026, Bexar County vehicles must pass an emissions test before registration renewal. The test costs $21.25 in total: $18.50 at the station and $2.75 at renewal (TxDMV, Sep 15, 2026). Electric vehicles and classic cars are exempt.
Raised statewide in Nov 2025. Details on Texas taxes.
Same everywhere in Texas
CPS Energy is city-owned, so San Antonio is outside the Texas electricity choice market (ERCOT). Income tax, the sales tax ceiling, homestead exemptions, vehicle fees and insurance averages are on Texas taxes and pay and the Texas overview. See how San Antonio stacks up on the city comparison.
How we check
Every figure links to its source and shows the date it applies to. Read the full methodology.