San Antonio, Texas

It’s no secret Texas doesn’t have state income taxes. This means living in Texas is going to be less expensive than most other large cities in other states. Bonus: San Antonio seems to have even lower costs than other big Texas cities. Why? It’s still kind of an in-the-know secret. Austin and Dallas prices have skyrocketed thanks to the remote working boom/pandemic moves and general population growth. People who had an opportunity to ditch the overpriced, underwhelming homes in NYC, San Francisco, etc. did, and they moved to Dallas or Austin or Houston (or Florida). And don’t listen to anyone who says “it’s cheaper because it’s not Austin.” They don’t know what they’re talking about. You can save big and still have a ton of space, the Riverwalk, excellent Mexican food, and the Spurs.

Here's a note from a transplant about the pros of living in San Antonio:
-As a recent college grad living on an AmeriCorps stipend ($492 biweekly) this is a city I can afford to live in and still have a pretty good time. My rent is very affordable, gas is pretty cheap (as long as there isn’t a scare), and you can find great food and things to do for cheap and free.
-Weather: I moved down from Iowa; it is pretty freakin’ cold there for six months out of the year. San Antonio does not have that problem. It’s the beginning of November and I’ve seen the underside of 70 degrees Fahrenheit only a handful of times.
-Attractions: There are so many fun things to do in this city it is almost overwhelming. I have a constantly growing list of museums, parks, happy hours, and outdoor adventures I want to check out. It seems like every time I try something new, two new “must-dos” get added to my list.
-Food: One word, tacos. They are cheap, they are tasty, and they are everywhere.

For more reviews of what living in San Antonio is like from locals check out: The Reviews

For all the pros that a low cost of living can offer, San Antonio does have its cons. First off, the city is huge. It’s 460 square miles and because it’s so large it can feel like you’re driving through one big suburb. It’s having a bit of an identity crisis and struggling to decide if it’s going to try to be like Houston or if it’s cool being a spread out city with a small-town vibe. This means that the development Downtown has been booming with lofts and mixed use apartments, but the suburbs are holding strong. So if you’re moving to Texas from a city like SF or NYC that has a high population in a small area, San Antonio can either be your haven or your headache.

**Note from a native on the issue of San Antonio's size: **
basically you can't walk from place to place like you could in, say, Austin. San Antonio is pretty spread out. Another downside could be all the construction on I-10, but that's just temporary. Well, that's all I have on the top of my head but I highly recommend movin' on down!

The Reviews