San Antonio real estate vs inflation: did it beat the dollar?
113% × 46%
Updated June 1, 2026 · Redfin · BLS / FRED (CPIAUCNS)
Since 2013, San Antonio real estate is up 113% while U.S. consumer prices rose 46%. San Antonio real estate far outpaced inflation — but the ride was brutal: its worst drop was 14%. Figures in U.S. dollars.
Base 100 since 2013
Why compare San Antonio home prices (US$/m²) and U.S. inflation (CPI-U)
San Antonio is among the more affordable large metros in Texas, with an economy built on the military, healthcare, tourism around the River Walk and a growing logistics base. It has historically traded below Austin and the Dallas-Houston pair on price per square meter, and its swings have tended to be gentler than the boomtown markets. The city still drew in the broad Sun Belt migration after 2020 and saw the same cooling once mortgage rates climbed, though from a lower starting point. The table below lets you read how its property values per square meter kept pace with inflation over the period.
Returns by window
| Window | San Antonio home prices (US$/m²) | U.S. inflation (CPI-U) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | -4% | 4% |
| 5 years | 6% | 24% |
| 10 years | 54% | 39% |
| since 2013 | 113% | 46% |
The price of return: risk
| Asset | Annual volatility | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio real estate | 7% | -14% |
| Inflation (CPI) | 1% | -2% |
$10,000 in each, since 2013
| Asset | Value today |
|---|---|
| San Antonio real estate | $21,279 |
| Inflation (CPI) | $14,553 |
Frequently asked questions
Did San Antonio real estate beat inflation?
Over the period, San Antonio real estate returned 113% while U.S. consumer prices rose 46%. The gap is what the asset earned beyond simply keeping pace with the dollar.
Does this account for the dollar losing value?
Yes. The inflation line is U.S. CPI, the measure of how much purchasing power the dollar lost over the same period. Returns above that line are gains in real terms.
Does a higher return mean a better investment?
Not on its own. A higher return came with higher risk here — the volatility and the largest drop on this page show how much the value swung along the way.
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Descriptive, educational content computed from official public data. Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.