Cost of Living in Texas
Texas has 132 cities with cost-of-living data on CompareLiving, drawn from US Census, BEA, HUD, and EPA sources. Prices range from Huntsville (cost index 88.3) to Arlington (103.4), with a statewide average around 96.8 versus the US baseline of 100. Median rent is lowest in Eagle Pass at $794/mo and highest in Southlake at $3,501/mo.
Texas at a Glance
Cities Tracked
132
with census data
Avg Cost Index
96.8
US avg = 100
Avg Median Rent
$1,486
per month
Avg Household Income
$88,838
annual median
Most & Least Affordable Cities
Most Affordable
| City | Cost Index | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | 88.3 | $981 |
| Spring | 90.0 | $1,656 |
| Lubbock | 91.2 | $1,137 |
| Killeen | 92.0 | $1,147 |
| Temple | 92.0 | $1,174 |
Most Expensive
| City | Cost Index | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 103.4 | $1,403 |
| Fort Worth | 103.4 | $1,412 |
| Arlington | 103.4 | $1,389 |
| Midland | 102.9 | $1,407 |
| Austin | 98.8 | $1,655 |
Cost Index = BEA Regional Price Parity (US avg = 100)
Taxes in Texas
State Income Tax
None
No state income tax on wages
State Sales Tax
6.25%
Statewide base rate · local add-ons may apply
Popular Cities in Texas
Texas Cities — Full Table
Click columns to sort
| Houston | 2,300,419 | 98.8 | $1,313 | $253,400 | $62,894 |
| San Antonio | 1,458,954 | 95.0 | $1,258 | $219,700 | $62,917 |
| Dallas | 1,299,553 | 103.4 | $1,403 | $295,300 | $67,760 |
| Austin | 967,862 | 98.8 | $1,655 | $512,700 | $91,461 |
| Fort Worth | 941,311 | 103.4 | $1,412 | $277,300 | $76,602 |
| El Paso | 678,147 | 97.1 | $1,041 | $171,700 | $58,734 |
| Arlington | 394,769 | 103.4 | $1,389 | $276,400 | $73,519 |
| Corpus Christi | 317,383 | 93.3 | $1,230 | $197,100 | $66,325 |
| Plano | 287,339 | — | $1,792 | $440,600 | $108,649 |
| Lubbock | 261,078 | 91.2 | $1,137 | $197,900 | $60,487 |
| Laredo | 255,949 | — | $1,001 | $182,400 | $63,264 |
| Irving | 255,036 | — | $1,517 | $287,300 | $79,641 |
| Garland | 245,298 | — | $1,525 | $248,900 | $74,717 |
| Frisco | 210,238 | — | $1,902 | $595,400 | $146,158 |
| McKinney | 202,314 | — | $1,841 | $439,500 | $120,273 |
| Amarillo | 200,945 | — | $1,049 | $186,800 | $62,469 |
| Grand Prairie | 198,564 | — | $1,470 | $272,200 | $78,889 |
| Brownsville | 188,023 | — | $906 | $122,400 | $48,675 |
| Killeen | 156,144 | 92.0 | $1,147 | $196,000 | $58,339 |
| Pasadena | 149,345 | — | $1,201 | $193,600 | $64,270 |
| Mesquite | 148,848 | — | $1,407 | $226,500 | $71,843 |
| Denton | 146,987 | — | $1,344 | $325,700 | $73,719 |
| McAllen | 143,789 | — | $1,017 | $173,800 | $60,165 |
| Waco | 141,925 | — | $1,098 | $199,600 | $51,468 |
| Midland | 133,998 | 102.9 | $1,407 | $298,600 | $91,169 |
| Carrollton | 132,741 | — | $1,674 | $353,600 | $99,115 |
| Lewisville | 128,313 | — | $1,572 | $350,200 | $85,002 |
| Abilene | 127,130 | — | $1,106 | $178,900 | $62,720 |
| Pearland | 125,983 | — | $1,759 | $330,900 | $112,470 |
| Round Rock | 124,288 | 98.8 | $1,713 | $383,700 | $97,187 |
| College Station | 122,280 | — | $1,168 | $326,500 | $51,776 |
| Richardson | 118,269 | — | $1,825 | $405,600 | $96,257 |
| The Woodlands | 116,916 | 98.8 | $1,792 | $479,400 | $141,353 |
| League City | 114,885 | — | $1,628 | $334,000 | $119,870 |
| Odessa | 114,080 | — | $1,322 | $208,000 | $73,030 |
| Beaumont | 113,710 | — | $1,072 | $158,800 | $57,530 |
| Sugar Land | 109,735 | 98.8 | $1,939 | $406,600 | $137,511 |
| Tyler | 107,718 | — | $1,199 | $216,400 | $65,527 |
| Allen | 107,684 | 98.1 | $1,877 | $429,900 | $129,130 |
| Edinburg | 102,561 | — | $968 | $174,800 | $57,789 |
| Wichita Falls | 102,558 | — | $978 | $142,600 | $58,568 |
| San Angelo | 99,507 | — | $1,121 | $179,300 | $64,146 |
| New Braunfels | 98,700 | 95.0 | $1,536 | $315,100 | $88,257 |
| Conroe | 96,976 | — | $1,350 | $283,100 | $75,245 |
| Atascocita | 93,926 | — | $1,794 | $283,700 | $114,443 |
| Temple | 86,358 | 92.0 | $1,174 | $220,300 | $64,945 |
| Mission | 86,234 | — | $931 | $160,800 | $60,813 |
| Bryan | 86,169 | — | $1,150 | $210,600 | $56,861 |
| Baytown | 84,538 | — | $1,217 | $187,900 | $61,699 |
| Longview | 82,765 | — | $1,061 | $182,700 | $62,488 |
| Pharr | 79,809 | — | $990 | $111,500 | $49,884 |
| Georgetown | 78,803 | 98.8 | $1,671 | $398,600 | $91,857 |
| Flower Mound | 77,886 | — | $2,221 | $514,100 | $157,737 |
| Cedar Park | 77,474 | — | $1,753 | $474,800 | $123,972 |
| Mansfield | 75,398 | — | $1,798 | $380,000 | $116,590 |
| Missouri City | 75,234 | — | $1,908 | $281,600 | $96,746 |
| Harlingen | 71,669 | — | $893 | $125,700 | $55,891 |
| North Richland Hills | 70,338 | — | $1,609 | $324,800 | $93,434 |
| San Marcos | 68,920 | — | $1,299 | $269,700 | $51,030 |
| Leander | 67,880 | — | $1,865 | $470,700 | $140,180 |
| Spring | 67,103 | 90.0 | $1,656 | $221,300 | $86,888 |
| Victoria | 65,514 | — | $1,170 | $193,200 | $68,233 |
| Pflugerville | 65,162 | — | $1,856 | $354,900 | $112,656 |
| Rowlett | 64,139 | — | $1,964 | $342,400 | $113,600 |
| Euless | 60,373 | — | $1,606 | $294,500 | $80,987 |
| Wylie | 58,991 | — | $1,985 | $350,100 | $113,661 |
| DeSoto | 55,896 | — | $1,478 | $282,600 | $83,256 |
| Port Arthur | 55,779 | — | $996 | $96,900 | $45,752 |
| Texas City | 54,159 | — | $1,200 | $190,600 | $65,447 |
| Galveston | 53,348 | — | $1,278 | $294,300 | $57,216 |
| Kyle | 52,439 | — | $1,661 | $302,200 | $89,645 |
| Little Elm | 51,426 | — | $1,900 | $390,300 | $116,036 |
| Burleson | 50,981 | — | $1,665 | $282,900 | $94,162 |
| Grapevine | 50,875 | — | $1,806 | $470,400 | $111,438 |
| Rockwall | 49,605 | — | $1,832 | $382,400 | $114,926 |
| Bedford | 49,191 | — | $1,429 | $322,300 | $81,393 |
| Cedar Hill | 48,547 | — | $1,878 | $273,200 | $90,608 |
| Huntsville | 46,917 | 88.3 | $981 | $225,800 | $45,401 |
| Haltom City | 45,681 | — | $1,329 | $194,600 | $56,156 |
| Keller | 45,598 | — | $1,985 | $557,700 | $172,654 |
| Sherman | 45,036 | — | $1,177 | $219,300 | $60,935 |
| The Colony | 44,916 | — | $1,884 | $355,100 | $111,090 |
| Waxahachie | 43,591 | — | $1,495 | $307,900 | $82,449 |
| Channelview | 43,536 | — | $1,202 | $186,300 | $65,775 |
| Schertz | 43,128 | — | $1,593 | $292,100 | $96,633 |
| Coppell | 42,029 | — | $1,851 | $525,300 | $139,227 |
| Weslaco | 41,437 | — | $942 | $119,200 | $54,995 |
| Friendswood | 40,827 | — | $1,698 | $399,500 | $125,052 |
| Lancaster | 40,753 | — | $1,627 | $229,900 | $67,584 |
| Hurst | 39,912 | — | $1,319 | $287,600 | $71,743 |
| Duncanville | 39,879 | — | $1,562 | $239,200 | $71,381 |
| Rosenberg | 39,467 | — | $1,337 | $218,600 | $64,897 |
| Mission Bend | 37,280 | — | $1,613 | $221,800 | $72,492 |
| Midlothian | 37,256 | — | $1,867 | $369,400 | $122,643 |
| Copperas Cove | 37,149 | — | $1,022 | $167,900 | $68,900 |
| Farmers Branch | 36,254 | — | $1,820 | $322,000 | $87,702 |
| Socorro | 36,237 | — | $1,036 | $131,200 | $52,100 |
| La Porte | 36,077 | — | $1,327 | $217,100 | $81,801 |
| Texarkana | 36,039 | — | $990 | $159,700 | $49,240 |
| San Juan | 35,674 | — | $937 | $118,200 | $53,440 |
| Timberwood Park | 34,980 | — | $2,012 | $469,900 | $147,471 |
| Del Rio | 34,638 | — | $892 | $143,200 | $59,588 |
| Prosper | 34,567 | — | $2,152 | $694,600 | $187,603 |
| Lufkin | 34,158 | — | $1,043 | $162,600 | $56,722 |
| Weatherford | 33,924 | — | $1,474 | $285,000 | $78,738 |
| Cibolo | 33,829 | — | $2,008 | $324,600 | $125,230 |
| Deer Park | 33,823 | — | $1,299 | $238,900 | $95,233 |
| Harker Heights | 33,595 | — | $1,114 | $269,000 | $82,685 |
| Cleburne | 32,966 | — | $1,283 | $200,900 | $66,324 |
| Canyon Lake | 32,924 | — | $1,242 | $337,200 | $93,114 |
| Hutto | 32,188 | — | $2,202 | $315,800 | $115,149 |
| Nacogdoches | 32,104 | — | $921 | $173,200 | $38,855 |
| West Odessa | 31,985 | — | $974 | $134,100 | $65,782 |
| Seguin | 31,789 | — | $1,135 | $227,000 | $61,896 |
| Southlake | 31,044 | — | $3,501 | $957,500 | $250,001 |
| Greenville | 29,936 | 94.9 | $1,274 | $197,400 | $63,574 |
| Sachse | 29,075 | — | $1,807 | $366,100 | $130,839 |
| Converse | 28,764 | — | $1,601 | $240,100 | $88,060 |
| Forney | 28,222 | — | $1,665 | $323,500 | $103,360 |
| Eagle Pass | 28,186 | — | $794 | $192,600 | $54,952 |
| Lake Jackson | 27,902 | — | $1,417 | $248,900 | $89,623 |
| Alvin | 27,700 | — | $1,164 | $212,500 | $68,769 |
| Balch Springs | 27,181 | — | $1,260 | $208,200 | $70,528 |
| Celina | 27,141 | — | $2,064 | $458,000 | $155,875 |
| Fulshear | 26,986 | — | $1,889 | $546,200 | $178,398 |
| Colleyville | 25,906 | — | $3,194 | $718,900 | $203,566 |
| Fort Hood | 25,786 | — | $1,368 | — | $59,661 |
| Denison | 25,347 | — | $1,161 | $167,800 | $60,821 |
| Corsicana | 25,344 | — | $1,038 | $161,400 | $51,240 |
| University Park | 25,104 | — | $2,940 | $1,766,700 | $250,001 |
| Kingsville | 25,061 | — | $1,021 | $134,600 | $55,649 |
| Sienna | 25,025 | — | $2,853 | $440,600 | $171,709 |
Cost Index = BEA Regional Price Parity (US avg = 100) · Income & Rent = US Census ACS
Moving Guides Involving Texas
Compare Texas cities head-to-head
Use our comparison tool to put any two cities side by side. Or explore national rankings to see how Texas cities stack up across the US. For example, Houston vs San Antonio.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cost of Living in Texas
What is the cost of living in Texas?
The average cost of living index across cities in Texas is approximately 96.8 (US average = 100), which is slightly below the US average. Median gross rent averages around $1,486/month and median household income averages around $88,838/year.
What are the cheapest cities to live in Texas?
The most affordable cities in Texas by cost of living index are: 1. Huntsville (index 88.3), 2. Spring (index 90.0), 3. Lubbock (index 91.2).
What is the median rent in Texas?
The average median gross rent across cities in Texas is approximately $1,486/month. Rent varies significantly by city and neighborhood — use the city profiles below for specific figures.
What are the income tax rates in Texas?
Texas has no state income tax on wages, making it one of the tax-friendly states for workers. Source: Tax Foundation (2024).
What is the sales tax in Texas?
Texas's statewide sales tax rate is 6.25%. Local city and county rates may add to this. Source: Tax Foundation (2024).
Is it expensive to move to Texas?
Texas has a cost of living index of approximately 96.8 and average median rent around $1,486/month. It is generally more affordable than the US average, which can offset moving costs over time. Use our moving guides for salary equivalence calculations.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, Tax Foundation · Methodology