Houston - TX vs San Antonio - TX: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Houston - TX is roughly 11% more expensive than San Antonio - TX in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in San Antonio - TX (53 days vs 45), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

Houston 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 $1,664 a month in principal and interest in Houston and $1,505 in San Antonio, a gap of $160 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,638 in Houston and $1,415 in San Antonio, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.0 times rent in Houston and 1.1 times rent in San Antonio, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 15.4 years of rent in Houston and 16.1 in San Antonio; the lower ratio in Houston means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -3.8% in Houston and -4.8% in San Antonio; over just the last three months the change was -0.4% in Houston and -0.6% in San Antonio.

Homes sell for 97.3% of list price in Houston and 97.2% in San Antonio, after 45 and 53 days on the market, with price cuts on 29% 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 3% on a year ago in Houston 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.