Side by side

San Antonio vs Austin

Austin wins on more metrics — 1–5 on the 8 core metrics we track. Detail below.

Metric

San Antonio

Austin

Cost of living

B vs A: -20%

74✓

Rent · 1BR center

B vs A: +35%

$1,300✓

$1,750

Effective tax (remote)

B vs A: -9%

22%

20%✓

Healthcare

B vs A: ≈ same

Safety

B vs A: +10%

64✓

Internet

B vs A: +22%

230

280✓

Climate

B vs A: ≈ same

Freedom

B vs A: +13%

88✓

No state income tax, distinctive Tejano culture, and big-city amenities at a fraction of Austin's housing cost.

No-state-income-tax tech hub. Rents have cooled from 2022 peak but live music, BBQ, and outdoor culture endure.