City Comparison

Odessa vs San Antonio

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Odessa

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$223,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$73,500
Median Income

San Antonio

Texas
90
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$53,420
Median Income

The Verdict

5.6%

Living in Odessa costs 5.6% less than San Antonio. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Odessa, you would need $79,412 in San Antonio.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
72
Odessa
78
San Antonio
Groceries
96
Odessa
93
San Antonio
Utilities
100
Odessa
96
San Antonio
Transportation
93
Odessa
101
San Antonio
Healthcare
96
Odessa
95
San Antonio

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Odessa has the same purchasing power as $79,412 in San Antonio.

Conversely, $75,000 in San Antonio equals $70,833 in Odessa.

Living in Odessa vs San Antonio

Housing Costs

Odessa's housing index of 72 is lower San Antonio's 78, translating to median home prices of $223,000 vs $250,000. The $27,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,752 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,150/mo in Odessa compared to $1,200/mo in San Antonio, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Odessa and 93 in San Antonio. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Odessa vs $442/month in San Antonio. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Odessa and 96 in San Antonio. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Odessa vs $384 in San Antonio. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Odessa and 95 in San Antonio. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $73,500 in Odessa and $53,420 in San Antonio. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,471 and $59,356 respectively. Odessa residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,715/month to housing in Odessa vs $1,246/month in San Antonio. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/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 Transportation, where the gap is 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Odessa is 5.6% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Odessa has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $79,412 in San Antonio, based on the cost of living difference.
Odessa's housing index is 72 with median homes at $223,000, while San Antonio's is 78 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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