Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would need to be about $24,820 in Bexar County, TX, or $25,180 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
San Mateo County, CA vs Bexar County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Bexar County, TX is cheaper than San Mateo County, CA.
Moving to Bexar County, TX is estimated to save $47,194 per year.
Cheaper County
Bexar County, TXSave about $47,194 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in San Mateo County, CA is about $24,820 in Bexar County, TX.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Bexar County, TX. Taxes saves $17,796 per year.
Housing: $17,099 lower in Bexar County, TX
Taxes: $17,796 lower in Bexar County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $2,325 lower in Bexar County, TX
Food: $1,846 lower in Bexar County, TX
Transport: $2,246 lower in Bexar County, TX
San Mateo County, CA→Bexar County, TX
Equivalent salary in Bexar County, TX
$24,820
-50.36% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in San Mateo County, CA: $184,583
Median Income in Bexar County, TX: $84,936
Living Index in San Mateo County, CA 50.77%
Living Index in Bexar County, TX 54.78%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from San Mateo County, CA to Bexar County, TX.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from San Mateo County, CA to Bexar County, TX is estimated to save $47,194 per year. A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would have similar purchasing power to about $24,820 in Bexar County, TX. The largest savings come from taxes and housing.
This is a -50.36% decrease in modeled annual costs. Taxes is $17,796 per year lower (-71.03%); Housing is $17,099 per year lower (-56.28%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between San Mateo County, CA and Bexar County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 50.8% of median family income in San Mateo County, CA and 54.8% in Bexar County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $17,099 per year lower in Bexar County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Bexar County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,846 per year lower in Bexar County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Bexar County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $2,246 per year lower in Bexar County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Bexar County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $2,325 per year lower in Bexar County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Bexar County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $5,882 per year lower in Bexar County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Bexar County, TX help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in San Mateo County, CA and Bexar County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Bexar County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $17,796 per year lower in Bexar County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Bexar County, TX matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Bexar County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Bexar County, TX
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Bexar County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Bexar County, TX
Annual Savings:
$17,796 per year
TAXES has the largest annual savings when moving to Bexar County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -56% lower | |
| Food | -34% lower | |
| Transport | -16% lower | |
| Healthcare | -31% lower | |
| Other Costs | -53% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -71% lower |
In Bexar County, TX, modeled annual costs are $46,524 compared with $93,718 in San Mateo County, CA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Bexar County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Bexar County, TX and San Mateo County, CA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
