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

What this means for buyers

Austin - TX is roughly 51% more expensive than San Antonio - TX in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Austin - TX (60 days vs 53), suggesting more buyer leverage there.

San Antonio vs Austin: what the numbers say

At today's 7.32% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $1,505 a month in principal and interest in San Antonio and $2,277 in Austin, a gap of $772 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,415 in San Antonio and $1,603 in Austin, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.1 times rent in San Antonio and 1.4 times rent in Austin, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 16.1 years of rent in San Antonio and 21.5 in Austin; the lower ratio in San Antonio means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -4.8% in San Antonio and -9.8% in Austin; over just the last three months the change was -0.6% in San Antonio and -0.1% in Austin.

Homes sell for 97.2% of list price in San Antonio and 97.3% in Austin, after 53 and 60 days on the market, with price cuts on 30% and 30% of listings. The signs are mixed: San Antonio has more price cuts and sales further below list, while Austin has longer time on the market.

The number of homes for sale is up 4% on a year ago in San Antonio and down 3% on a year ago in Austin.

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.