San Marcos, TX vs Marana, AZ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Marana, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% lower than San Marcos, TX.

San Marcos, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,480 / month
Marana, AZ · modeled 2BR rent: $1,620 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare San Marcos, TX and Marana, AZ using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in San Marcos, TX

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $279/month in Marana, AZ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,654 in Marana, AZ

Regional cost estimates: San Marcos, TX uses Austin, TX. Marana, AZ uses Tucson, AZ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 3.4%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$279

Savings

Annual Impact

$3.3K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

San Marcos, TX

Population:72K

Cost Index:

96.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$311K

Marana, AZ

Population:58K

Cost Index:

93.3

100 = national average

Typical Home:$383K

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San Marcos, TX

The Lone Star State

72K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 72K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Marana, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

58K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Arizona, this city has a population of 58K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: San Marcos, TX vs Marana, AZ

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	San Marcos, TX	Marana, AZ	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,503/mo	$2,014/mo	↓ $489less	19.5%
Other	$1,679/mo	$1,818/mo	↑ $140more	8.3%
Groceries	$955/mo	$1,032/mo	↑ $77.25more	8.1%
Transportation	$1,238/mo	$1,297/mo	↑ $58.53more	4.7%
All Utilities	$539/mo	$488/mo	↓ $50.82less	9.4%
Healthcare	$586/mo	$572/mo	↓ $14.30less	2.4%

Housing

↓ 19.5%

San Marcos, TX

$2,503

Marana, AZ

$2,014

Difference

$489

less

Other

↑ 8.3%

San Marcos, TX

$1,679

Marana, AZ

$1,818

Difference

$140

Groceries

↑ 8.1%

San Marcos, TX

$955

Marana, AZ

$1,032

Difference

$77.25

Transportation

↑ 4.7%

San Marcos, TX

$1,238

Marana, AZ

$1,297

Difference

$58.53

All Utilities

↓ 9.4%

San Marcos, TX

$539

Marana, AZ

$488

Difference

$50.82

less

Healthcare

↓ 2.4%

San Marcos, TX

$586

Marana, AZ

$572

Difference

$14.30

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,170

To$1,190

↑ $20.00

1 Bed

From$1,250

To$1,300

↑ $50.00

2 Bed

From$1,480

To$1,620

↑ $140

3 Bed

From$1,880

To$2,250

↑ $370

San Marcos, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,250–$1,250/mo

Marana, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,300–$1,300/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in San Marcos, TX

$7,221

Monthly in Marana, AZ

$279

Difference

Home Values

San Marcos

Marana

$311K

Median Value

$383K

↓ -4.3%

YoY Change

↓ -1.1%

↑ +15.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +33.5%

Homes in Marana are 23% more expensive than San Marcos

Calculate payment - San Marcos Calculate payment - Marana

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $5.2K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$436

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

3.5%

Rate difference

San Marcos, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Marana, AZ

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Arizona State Tax

Effective: 3.5%

$5.2K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 28.2%

$42.2K

Take-Home Pay

$8,979/month

$107.8K

Additional Tax Information

San Marcos, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

Marana, AZ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.5%

Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

San Marcos

Marana

52 Moderate

Air Quality

56 Moderate

42.6%

Good Air Days

30.9%

98 High

Climate Risk

99 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌡

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

98 days

Heat Days >95°F

147 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

98 days

Heat Days >95°F

147 days

Before moving from San Marcos, TX to Marana, AZ

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Marana, AZ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in San Marcos, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your San Marcos to Marana moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Marana, AZ by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: San Marcos, TX vs Marana, AZ

How do the cost estimates for San Marcos, TX and Marana, AZ compare?

Marana, AZ has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% lower than San Marcos, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in San Marcos, TX, the model estimates $146,654 in Marana, AZ. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for San Marcos, TX and Marana, AZ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,480/month in San Marcos, TX and $1,620/month in Marana, AZ. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Texas and Arizona on TaxTakeHome.com