What is the cost of living in San Marcos, TX?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Marcos has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Texas, San Marcos has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Texas's index of 93.
The standard of living in San Marcos ranks as #244 most affordable out of the 419 places we measured in Texas. By definition, that implies San Marcos ranks as the #175 most expensive place in the Lone Star State.
For more reading on life in San Marcos, check out:
San Marcos Cost Of Living Vs. Texas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Marcos. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Marcos is 96.
The Groceries index in San Marcos is 95.
The Health index in San Marcos is 108.
The Housing index in San Marcos is 102.
The Transportation index in San Marcos is 100.
The Utilities index in San Marcos is 94.
| Living Expense | San Marcos | Texas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 108 | 81 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 100 | 100 |
San Marcos Cost Of Living Compared To Texas Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Texas, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in San Marcos Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
San Marcos, TX Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Texas, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in San Marcos is $310,120.
The Median Rent in San Marcos is $1,322.
The Median Income in San Marcos is $51,281.
The Home Value To Income in San Marcos is 6.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Marcos is 0.31x.
| Statistic | San Marcos | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $310,120 | $300,957 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,322 | $1,403 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $51,281 | $78,476 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.0x | 3.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.31x | 0.21x | 0.21x |
San Marcos, TX Costs By Category
Detailed San Marcos Services costs vs. Texas
| Item | San Marcos | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.23 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.82 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.11 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.43 | $45.56 |
Detailed San Marcos Groceries costs vs. Texas
| Item | San Marcos | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.49 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.64 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $9.57 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.18 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed San Marcos Health costs vs. Texas
| Item | San Marcos | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $117.38 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $108.42 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $124.98 | $113.29 |
Detailed San Marcos Transportation costs vs. Texas
| Item | San Marcos | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.06 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.75 | $59.92 |
Detailed San Marcos Utilities costs vs. Texas
| Item | San Marcos | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $172.6 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.15 | $192.25 |
San Marcos SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Marcos
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Marcos. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Round Rock, TX has a cost of living index of 111, 1.1x San Marcos.
Cedar Park, TX has a cost of living index of 123, 1.2x San Marcos.
Leander, TX has a cost of living index of 116, 1.2x San Marcos.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Marcos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round Rock, TX | 127,786 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Cedar Park, TX | 78,301 | 123 | 1.2x |
| Leander, TX | 74,067 | 116 | 1.2x |
| Pflugerville, TX | 65,971 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Kyle, TX | 56,823 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Timberwood Park, TX | 35,413 | 127 | 1.3x |
| Cibolo, TX | 35,109 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Converse, TX | 29,607 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Boerne, TX | 20,518 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Brushy Creek, TX | 19,576 | 121 | 1.2x |
