CostIndexUSA

San Antonio, TX vs Tempe, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
San Antonio
94.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
AZ
Tempe
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

San Antonio is moderately cheaper than Tempe — 9.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in San Antonio, you would need $87,300 in Tempe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+28.1%
San Antonio
94.6
Tempe
121.2
🛒 Groceries+1.3%
San Antonio
93.8
Tempe
95
🚗 Transportation+8.0%
San Antonio
101.1
Tempe
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+8.1%
San Antonio
91.4
Tempe
98.8
Utilities+13.5%
San Antonio
82.2
Tempe
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tempe, AZ
$87,300
$7,300 more needed in Tempe

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 94.7) = salary × 1.0908. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

San Antonio, TX

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

Tempe, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Tempe has 28.1% higher housing costs compared to San Antonio.

Income & Job Market

San Antonio, TX

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

Tempe, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
185,038
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareRetailFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

77% of income left after rent (median)

Tempe, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.