Is San Antonio, TX or Portland, OR cheaper on a $120,000 salary?

San Antonio, TX leaves you more: $25,466/yr. On $120,000, San Antonio, TX leaves $76,405/yr in pocket (state tax $0, housing $14,015) vs Portland, OR's $50,939 (state tax $11,880, housing $27,601).

The gap is driven mostly by state income tax (Texas: 0% vs Oregon: 9.90%) and housing.

WhereCanIAfford › Take-home › San Antonio, TX vs Portland, OR

San Antonio, TX vs Portland, OR: cost of living on $120,000

San Antonio, TX +$25,466/yr On $120,000, San Antonio, TX leaves $76,405/yr in pocket vs Portland, OR's $50,939 — after state income tax and housing.

Where the money goes

On $120,000	San Antonio, TX	Portland, OR
Federal + FICA (est.)	$29,580	$29,580
State income tax	$0 (0%)	$11,880 (9.90%)
After-tax income	$90,420	$78,540
− Housing/yr (Zillow)	$14,015	$27,601
Real money in pocket	$76,405	$50,939

Verified 2026-06-23 · State tax: Tax Foundation, “State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2025” + state revenue departments. Modeled as an effective planning rate for a typical $80k–$160k filer — not a full bracket engine. · Housing from Zillow ZHVI 2026-05.

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FAQ

Is San Antonio, TX or Portland, OR cheaper?: On $120,000, San Antonio, TX — by $25,466/yr in real take-home.
What's the biggest driver?: State income tax (Texas 0% vs Oregon 9.90%) and housing cost.

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