SmartAsset study finds $100,000 buys slightly more in San Antonio than last year, outpacing Texas peers

A small year-over-year gain, but San Antonio remains among the highest-value large cities

A new nationwide analysis of purchasing power suggests that a $100,000 salary goes slightly further in San Antonio than it did a year earlier, even as households continue to navigate elevated prices across major spending categories.

The study estimated the “value” of a six-figure income by adjusting a $100,000 salary for taxes and for local cost-of-living differences across 69 of the largest U.S. cities. In San Antonio, the study estimated a purchasing-power figure of $86,419 for 2025, up from $86,084 for 2024—an increase of about $335, or roughly 0.4%.

How San Antonio compared with other Texas metros

San Antonio ranked eighth among the 69 cities evaluated, placing it among the top tier of large cities where take-home income retains more spending power after local costs are considered.

Within Texas, the study positioned San Antonio ahead of the state’s other major metro areas included in the analysis. The estimated value of a $100,000 salary was $82,446 in Austin, $84,840 in Houston and $80,103 in Dallas. Plano, the lowest-ranked Texas city in the study, registered $72,653.

Why the numbers move: taxes and local price levels

The methodology reflects two core forces that shape what residents can buy with a given salary: the tax bite from federal payroll and income taxes, and the extent to which local prices differ from national norms. Texas does not levy a state personal income tax, which can boost take-home pay relative to otherwise similar metro areas in states with wage income taxes. At the same time, living costs vary widely by city, with housing and transportation often driving the largest differences.

The study’s key question is not what $100,000 is worth on paper, but how much purchasing power remains after taxes and city-level cost premiums.

What the year-over-year gain does—and does not—mean

The modest increase for San Antonio signals slightly improved purchasing power in the study’s framework, but it does not imply that prices fell across the board or that all households experienced the change equally. The estimate is designed for a single filer earning $100,000 and is sensitive to both tax assumptions and changes in relative cost-of-living measures. It also represents an average citywide figure rather than neighborhood-level variation.

Key figures at a glance

• San Antonio estimated purchasing power: $86,419 (2025) vs. $86,084 (2024)
• San Antonio rank among 69 large U.S. cities: 8th
• Other major Texas metros in the study: Austin $82,446; Houston $84,840; Dallas $80,103
• Lowest-ranked Texas city in the study: Plano $72,653

For local workers and employers, the findings offer a snapshot of how San Antonio’s cost structure compares nationally and within Texas—useful context for salary negotiations, relocation decisions and longer-term household budgeting.