Chicago - IL vs San Antonio - TX: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Chicago - IL is roughly 30% more expensive than San Antonio - TX in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in San Antonio - TX (53 days vs 14), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Chicago vs San Antonio: what the numbers say

At today's 7.32% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,954 a month in principal and interest in Chicago and $1,505 in San Antonio, a gap of $450 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,163 in Chicago and $1,415 in San Antonio, so the mortgage payment alone is 0.9 times rent in Chicago and 1.1 times rent in San Antonio, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 13.7 years of rent in Chicago and 16.1 in San Antonio; the lower ratio in Chicago means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +8.3% in Chicago and -4.8% in San Antonio; over just the last three months the change was +1.5% in Chicago and -0.6% in San Antonio.

Homes sell for 100.5% of list price in Chicago and 97.2% in San Antonio, after 14 and 53 days on the market, with price cuts on 28% and 30% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in San Antonio.

The number of homes for sale is up 1% on a year ago in Chicago and up 4% on a year ago in San Antonio.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-22), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.