Montgomery vs San Antonio
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Montgomery
San Antonio
The Verdict
Montgomery is 12.2% less expensive than San Antonio overall. A household earning $75,000 in Montgomery would need approximately $85,443 in San Antonio to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Montgomery has the same purchasing power as $85,443 in San Antonio.
Conversely, $75,000 in San Antonio equals $65,833 in Montgomery.
Living in Montgomery vs San Antonio
Housing Costs
Montgomery's housing index of 49 is lower San Antonio's 78, translating to median home prices of $162,000 vs $250,000. The $88,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Montgomery compared to $1,200/mo in San Antonio, a monthly difference of $200.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Montgomery and 93 in San Antonio. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Montgomery vs $442/month in San Antonio. San Antonio offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 115 in Montgomery and 96 in San Antonio. Monthly utility bills average approximately $460 in Montgomery vs $384 in San Antonio. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 78 in Montgomery and 95 in San Antonio. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $56,800 in Montgomery and $53,420 in San Antonio. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,899 and $59,356 respectively. Montgomery residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,325/month to housing in Montgomery vs $1,246/month in San Antonio. In Montgomery, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In San Antonio, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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