CostIndexUSA

Charlotte, NC vs San Antonio, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableTX
San Antonio
94.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

San Antonio is slightly cheaper than Charlotte — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlotte, you would need $77,900 in San Antonio. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing3.1%
Charlotte
97.6
San Antonio
94.6
🛒 Groceries2.9%
Charlotte
96.6
San Antonio
93.8
🚗 Transportation1.9%
Charlotte
103.1
San Antonio
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.0%
Charlotte
93.3
San Antonio
91.4
Utilities7.8%
Charlotte
89.2
San Antonio
82.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Charlotte to see what you'd need to earn in San Antonio to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in San Antonio, TX
$77,900
$2,100 less needed in San Antonio

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9733. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

San Antonio, TX

Median Home Price
$274,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
94.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Charlotte has 3.1% lower housing costs compared to San Antonio.

Income & Job Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
879,709
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEnergy

San Antonio, TX

Median Household Income
$73,200
Per Capita Income
$41,700
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
1,434,625
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareTourismManufacturingGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Charlotte, NC
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

San Antonio, TX
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.