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City Comparison · 2026

San Antonio vs Los Angeles

Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared

Purchasing Power

$100k in San Antonio = $176k in Los Angeles

Metric
San Antonio
Los Angeles
COL Index
1.00
1.76
1BR Monthly Rent
$1,250/mo
$2,450/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
$1,580/mo
$3,200/mo
State Income Tax
TX
CA
$100k Take-Home
$78,736
$73,198
$100k Effective Rate
21.26%
26.8%
$100k Savings Potential
$63,736
$43,798

After-Tax Income by Salary

Gross SalarySan Antonio
TX
Los Angeles
CA
$60,000$50,248
$4,187/mo · 16.25% eff.
$48,276
$4,023/mo · 19.54% eff.
$100,000$78,736
$6,561/mo · 21.26% eff.
$73,198
$6,100/mo · 26.8% eff.
$150,000$113,278
$9,440/mo · 24.48% eff.
$103,090
$8,591/mo · 31.27% eff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Antonio or Los Angeles cheaper to live in?

San Antonio has a cost-of-living index of 1.00 while Los Angeles is 1.76 (1.00 = US average). San Antonio is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in San Antonio is $1,250/month vs $2,450/month in Los Angeles.

How much more do you need to earn in Los Angeles vs San Antonio?

$100k in San Antonio = $176k in Los Angeles. Cost of living in Los Angeles is higher by 76%.

Which city has better after-tax income — San Antonio or Los Angeles?

On a $100,000 salary, you take home $78,736 in TX (San Antonio) and $73,198 in CA (Los Angeles). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $63,736 in San Antonio vs $43,798 in Los Angeles.