Cost of Living: San Antonio, TX vs Lafayette, LA (2026)

San Antonio

Texas
82
VS

Lafayette

Louisiana
77

San Antonio is 6% more expensive than Lafayette.

$1,258/mo ↑ 18%
Median Rent
$1,065/mo ↓ 15%
$62,917/yr ↑ 2%
Median Income
$61,454/yr ↓ 2%
$219,700 ↓ 13%
Home Value
$251,300 ↑ 14%
$1,235/mo ↑ 17%
Owner Costs
$1,057/mo ↓ 14%
1,458,954
Population
121,537

Tax Comparison

0%
Income Tax
4.25%
6.25%
State Sales Tax
4.45%
1.6%
Property Tax
0.55%

Affordability

24.0%
rent-to-income
Affordability
20.8%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing San Antonio, TX and Lafayette, LA, the overall cost of living indices are 82 and 77 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $193/month cheaper in Lafayette, saving renters about $2,316/year.

Median household income is $1,463/year higher in San Antonio. Home values also differ significantly — the median in San Antonio is $219,700 compared to $251,300 in Lafayette.

Texas has no state income tax, giving San Antonio residents a significant tax advantage over Louisiana's 4.25% rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

San Antonio vs Lafayette — common questions

Is San Antonio or Lafayette cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Lafayette is cheaper to live in with an index of 77 compared to 82 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between San Antonio and Lafayette?
Median rent in San Antonio is $1,258/month and in Lafayette it's $1,065/month — a difference of $193/month.
Which city has higher income, San Antonio or Lafayette?
Median household income is $62,917 in San Antonio and $61,454 in Lafayette. Median household income is $1,463/year higher in San Antonio.
How do taxes compare between Texas and Louisiana?
Texas has 0% income tax, 6.25% sales tax, and 1.6% property tax. Louisiana has 4.25% income tax, 4.45% sales tax, and 0.55% property tax.
Should I move to San Antonio or Lafayette?
It depends on your priorities. San Antonio has a cost index of 82 with median rent of $1,258/mo, while Lafayette has a cost index of 77 with rent of $1,065/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View San Antonio details → View Lafayette details →

More Comparisons

Other cost of living comparisons for San Antonio and Lafayette

San Antonio vs. Philadelphia San Antonio vs. San Diego San Antonio vs. Phoenix San Antonio vs. Dallas San Antonio vs. Houston San Antonio vs. San Jose Lafayette vs. Rochester Lafayette vs. Ann Arbor Lafayette vs. Independence Lafayette vs. Berkeley Lafayette vs. College Station Lafayette vs. Fairfield