Food and Drink
- Best Dessert Spots
- Lick Honest Ice Creams (The Pearl: 312 Pearl Pkwy, $5-7 scoop), the Bakery at The Pearl.
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, DoorDash, Grubhub. Average delivery fee $3-6.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Puffy tacos (e.g., at Henry's Puffy Tacos, 1031 S Presa St), brisket from Smoke Shack (1020 S Presa St).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Green Vegetarian Cuisine (two locations: 210-320-8888, mains $10-15); Earth Burger (multiple locations).
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- HEB (grocery store, multiple locations), La Pulga San Antonio (7951 Potranco Rd, flea market weekends).
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Prime delivery), Walmart.com, Target.com. Same-day delivery available.
- Grocery Delivery
- HEB Delivery ($5 fee), Shipt, Instacart (from HEB, Target).
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Downtown Riverwalk, St. Mary's Strip (nightclubs), Southtown (The Friendly Spot, Blue Star Garage).
- Local Brewery
- Alamo Beer Company (202 Lamar St, $5-8 pints), Freetail Brewing (4035 Naco Perrin Blvd).
- Wine Bars
- The Esquire Tavern (155 E Commerce St, historic wine bar), Cured (306 Pearl Pkwy) with charcuterie and wine.
- Street Food Stalls
- Market Square (514 W Commerce St, weekends, tacos $3), food trucks at The Point Park (1215 N St Mary's St).
- Popular International Cuisine
- Indian: India Palace (2409 N Loop 1604 W), Thai: Thai Dee (multiple locations), sushi: Sushihana (111 W Crockett St).
Essentials
- City
- San Antonio, Texas, United States
- Population
- Approximately 1.5 million (metro area 2.6 million)
- Internet Speed
- Average 250 Mbps (Google Fiber, Spectrum, AT&T Fiber available)
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). 1 USD = 0.92 EUR. Widespread banking with Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo. Many ATMs.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, treated by SAWS. Some prefer filtered due to hard water.
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, Type A/B sockets. US-style two-pin flat.
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T. Prepaid plans from $30/month. eSIMs available (e.g., Airalo).
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, Wise, Chase, Bank of America. Most accept international wire transfers.
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, VRBO, Furnished Finder, Zillow Rentals. Monthly rents from $1,200 (studio) to $2,500 (1-bed in downtown).
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards accepted widely. Cash sometimes needed for small vendors.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (studio $60-120/night), VRBO, Sonder (downtown $100-180/night).
- Budget Accommodation
- HI San Antonio Riverwalk Hostel ($30-50/night) or Airbnb private room in Southtown ($45-70/night).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Riverwalk / Downtown: walkable, attractions like Alamo, Riverwalk, Market Square.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Southtown (King William), Tobin Hill, or The Pearl: cafes, coworking, walkable.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Geekdom (112 E Pecan St, downtown): $100/month, 24/7, events. Also The Tech Garden (on W Houston St) $150/month.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Local Coffee (various, e.g., 414 S Alamo St in Southtown): good WiFi, $3-5 coffee, outlets.
- Networking Events
- San Antonio Digital Nomads Meetup (monthly at Geekdom), Startup Week events (Tech Fest in June).
- Social Events for Expats
- San Antonio Expats & Internationals Facebook Group, weekly meetups at The Friendly Spot (943 S Alamo St).
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (popular), Lyft. Average fare downtown $8-15.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- BCycle (San Antonio BCycle) stations - $8/day, Lime and Bird scooters available downtown.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Padre Island National Seashore (around 2.5 hours drive) or Port Aransas beach (2.5 hours).
- Top Regional Airline
- Southwest Airlines (dominant at SAT) and American Airlines.
- Top International Airline
- United, American, Delta (direct flights to Mexico, no direct long-haul international except some charters).
- Highway Access
- I-35, I-10, I-410 (loop) and US-281. Major highways connected.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- San Antonio Amtrak Station (350 Hoefgen St) serves the Texas Eagle, VIA Metropolitan Transit bus hub at Centro Plaza.
- Public Transport Passes
- VIA Metropolitan Transit: day pass $2.75, monthly $35. Bus service covers most of city.
- Regional Travel
- VIA buses, Greyhound buses, Amtrak (Texas Eagle). FlixBus from downtown to Austin ($10-20).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- University Hospital (4502 Medical Dr) and Methodist Hospital (7700 Floyd Curl Dr) are top-rated.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga District (in Southtown: 808 S Alamo St) drop-in $15-20; Pure Yoga (at The Pearl: 303 Pearl Pkwy) $20/class.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Planet Fitness ($10/month), Gold's Gym ($30/month), YMCA (downtown $45/month).
- Laundry Services
- Wash & Fold (e.g., Spin Cycle Laundry in Southtown: 210-555-0123, $1.50/lb), many laundromats (24 hr).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Alamo (300 Alamo Plaza), Riverwalk (Paseo del Rio), San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (UNESCO at Mission San Jose, 6701 San Jose Dr).
- Museums & Art Venues
- San Antonio Museum of Art (200 W Jones Ave, $20), Witte Museum (3801 Broadway, $15), McNay Art Museum (6000 N New Braunfels Ave, $20).
- Historical Sites
- The Alamo, Mission San Jose, Spanish Governor's Palace (105 Plaza De Armas), Tower of the Americas (739 E César E Chávez Blvd).
- Religious Sites
- San Fernando Cathedral (115 Main Plaza), Mission Concepción (807 Mission Rd), St. Mary's Church (202 W Cevallos St).
- Annual Events
- Fiesta San Antonio (April, parades and events), Dia de los Muertos (Nov, Market Square), February Stock Show & Rodeo (AT&T Center).
- Cultural Districts
- Southtown Arts District (S Alamo St, galleries), The Pearl (culinary & arts), Blue Star Contemporary (116 Blue Star).
- Theater Venues
- Majestic Theatre (224 E Houston St, classic), Charline McCombs Empire Theatre (226 N St Mary's St), Aztec Theatre (104 N St Mary's St).
- Local Markets
- Market Square (El Mercado) (514 W Commerce St, daily, handcrafts and food), Pearl Farmers Market (Saturdays, 8am-1pm, The Pearl).
- Music Scene
- Paper Tiger (2410 N St Mary's St, live concerts), The Espee (1174 E Commerce St), Jazz at the San Antonio Museum of Art (Free Fridays in summer).
- Street Art
- The Avenida Guadalupe (N Zarzamora St, murals), Southtown alleyways, and The Blue Star Arts Complex (116 Blue Star) with urban art.
- Cooking Classes
- Central Market Cooking School (4821 Broadway, $60/class), The CIA (Culinary Institute of America) at The Pearl offers workshops.
- Art Galleries
- Blue Star Contemporary (116 Blue Star), Ruiz-Healy Art (101 W Commerce St), Gallery 111 (111 Blue Star).
- Historic Buildings
- Bexar County Courthouse (100 Dolorosa St, Romanesque style), The Menger Hotel (204 Alamo Plaza, historic), Spanish Governor's Palace.
- Local Heritage
- San Antonio Missions (UNESCO), Tejano and Spanish colonial heritage, Cowboy culture, Fiesta medals and cascarones.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Government Canyon State Natural Area (12861 Galm Rd, day pass $6), Friedrich Wilderness Park (21395 Milsa Dr, free).
- National Parks Nearby
- None within 1 hour; Big Bend National Park (5 hours), Guadalupe Mountains (5 hours). But San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is a National Park site.
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Mission Reach Trail (8-mile paved along San Antonio River from Southtown to Mission Espada), Quarry Golf Course walks, Olmos Basin Park loop.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Tower of the Americas (739 E César E Chávez Blvd, $13), Riverwalk at night, overlook at Friedrich Wilderness Park.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Mitchell Lake Audubon Center (10750 Pleasanton Rd, $5), San Antonio River at Mission Reach, Brackenridge Park (3700 N St Mary's St).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Government Canyon (permitted: ranger station), private campsites at Lake McQueeney (outside city, rentals available).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- USPS, FedEx, UPS. Amazon Lockers (multiple locations, e.g., at Whole Foods 255 E Basse Rd).
- Tech Repair Services
- uBreakiFix (various, 210-555-0100, screen repair $100-150), Geek Squad at Best Buy (7600 I-35 N).
- Table Tennis Spots
- San Antonio Table Tennis Club (1511 S Ww White Rd, $10 drop-in), Spare Time recreation centers.
- Language Classes
- San Antonio College (Spanish / ESL classes), The Language Learning Center (downtown: 210-555-0200), informal intercambio at El Mercado.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- San Antonio Central Library (600 Soledad St, free, good WiFi, study rooms), The DoSeum (2800 Broadway, children's but library floor), UTSA Library (downtown campus).
- Community Centers
- Carver Community Cultural Center (226 N Hackberry St), Centro de Artes (101 Broadway), various YMCAs.
- Gaming Lounges
- Battlehopper Gaming Lounge (4259 Naco Perrin Blvd, $10/hr), OT Gaming (various).
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- No casinos in San Antonio; closest is Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino (near Eagle Pass, 2.5 hrs). There are poker rooms e.g., The Salinas Room (offline; call ahead).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $3,200 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = $96,000). Example: a 400 sq ft condo at The Vistana (downtown) list $120,000.
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,800 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = $54,000). Example: near Medical District, 400 sq ft from $60,000.
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $2,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $168,000). Example: 1-bed at The Majestic (downtown) $150-180,000 average.
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,600 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $96,000). Example: near Alamo Ranch, 1-bed condo $80-100,000.
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $2,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $200,000). Example: 2-bed riverwalk area (e.g., 88 m²) $190-220,000.
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,400 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $112,000). Example: near Stone Oak, 2-bed around $100-120,000.
- Corporate Tax
- 21% (federal). No state corporate income tax in Texas. Combined effective rate ~21%.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (federal) for non-residents. US residents: 0% up to $250,000 (qualified dividends) but US tax applies later.
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for US residents. Non-residents taxed only on US-sourced income.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (federal) for income over $578,125 (single). No Texas state income tax.
- VAT
- No VAT; sales tax 8.25% (city + state combined) on goods.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Subpart F and GILTI rules apply to US shareholders of foreign corporations.
- Property Tax
- Annual tax ~2.1% of assessed value (high: Bexar County). Example: $200K home ~$4,200/year.
- Property Transaction Tax
- No specific transaction tax; title insurance and recording fees (<1%).
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 0% state income tax. Federal foreign earned income exclusion (up to ~$120,000) for qualifying expats (330+ days abroad).