Rent vs Buy Calculator — San Antonio, TX
Prefilled with San Antonio estimates: a ~$290,000 home (about $58,000 for 20% down) versus ~$1,500/mo rent. Texas's effective property tax of 1.63% — well above the U.S. average (~1.1%) — adds roughly $4,727/yr, and typical homeowners insurance runs about $4,000/yr. Adjust every field to your actual home below.
Is it better to rent or buy in San Antonio?
There's no universal answer — it hinges on how long you'll stay, what you'd earn investing the down payment instead, and Texas's tax and insurance costs. Property tax is the biggest local lever: at 1.63% on a $290,000 home that's about $4,727 every year, before insurance and maintenance. Use the break-even readout above to see the year buying pulls ahead, and the appreciation rate that flips the decision.
What makes San Antonio, TX different
- Median home price estimate: $290,000
- Typical monthly rent estimate: $1,500
- Texas effective property tax: 1.63% (~$4,727/yr here)
- Texas avg. homeowners insurance: $4,000/yr
Starting estimates as of 2026-01 — see the methodology & sources.