New York was named the most expensive city in the U.S., where those earning $100,000 only took home about a third of their paycheck. Credit: Shutterstock / Izf

San Antonio has long been lauded for its low cost of living, but there’s reason to wonder whether the rising cost of housing, food and everything else is ruining our rep as an affordable city.

Turns out it’s not. Even with those escalating prices, the Alamo City is among the 10 cities where money stretches the furthest, according to a recent study.

On average, those earning $100,000 annually in San Antonio take home about 80% of their pay after taxes adjusted for inflation, landing it as the No. 7 most affordable U.S. city, according to an analysis by personal finance site SmartAsset.

SmartAsset came up with its rankings by analyzing take-home pay for those earning $100,000 in after-tax income adjusted for the cost of living in the nation’s 76 largest cities.

Of the top 10 most affordable cities, a whopping seven are in the Lone Star State. Memphis, Tennessee, took the top spot, where those earning $100,000 take home $86,444. By comparison, those earning $100,000 in New York — the most expensive city — only take home a meager $35,791.

The study attributes San Antonio’s affordability to its low housing costs and low living expenses. Inflation here is 7% lower than the national average, according to SmartAsset.

Four California cities — San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Oakland — were among the 10 most expensive cities, according to the report.

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This article appears in Mar 8-21, 2023.

Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...