Cheapest places to live in Texas
McAllen has the lowest median listed home of the 7 Texas cities we cover, at $258,750 (September 2026).
By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated October 2026.
- McAllenCheapest city$258,750 median listed home
- $1,422/moMonthly paymentAgainst $4,078 for the median New York metro home
- 3% cheaperTexas pricesThan the US average, statewide
The 3 cheapest in Texas
Ranked by median listed home. Tap a city for weather, flights and monthly costs.
.jpg/1280px-Texarkana_April_2016_040_(State_Line_Avenue).jpg)
Ranks 4 to 7
- 4San Antonio$320,374 · $1,761/mo mortgage
- 2-bed rent
- $1,460
- Prices
- 5% cheaper
- Incentive
- None
- 5Houston$353,995 · $1,945/mo mortgage
- 2-bed rent
- $1,562
- Prices
- 1% cheaper
- Incentive
- None
- 6Dallas-Fort Worth$422,495 · $2,322/mo mortgage
- 2-bed rent
- $1,794
- Prices
- 3% pricier
- Incentive
- None
- 7Austin$446,450 · $2,453/mo mortgage
- 2-bed rent
- $1,836
- Prices
- 2% cheaper
- Incentive
- None
Monthly payment vs New York
Principal and interest on the median listed home.
McAllen$1,422/mo
Austin, priciest we cover$2,453/mo
New York metro$4,078/mo
Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
Programs that help you move here
Cities on this list with an active relocation or home-buying incentive.
Ranked by home price
All 7 cities in one table.
See all 7 Texas cities, cheapest first
| Rank | City | Median listed home | Monthly payment | 2-bed rent | Price level | Incentive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen | $258,750 | $1,422 | $1,030 | 85.9 | None |
| 2 | Texarkana | $275,000 | $1,511 | $1,006 | 84.0 | $5,000 cash |
| 3 | El Paso | $314,987 | $1,731 | $1,100 | 89.9 | None |
| 4 | San Antonio | $320,374 | $1,761 | $1,460 | 94.7 | None |
| 5 | Houston | $353,995 | $1,945 | $1,562 | 98.6 | None |
| 6 | Dallas-Fort Worth | $422,495 | $2,322 | $1,794 | 103.1 | None |
| 7 | Austin | $446,450 | $2,453 | $1,836 | 98.1 | None |
More on Texas
Questions people ask
What is the cheapest city to live in Texas?
Of the cities we cover, McAllen. Its median listed home is $258,750 (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026).
Is Texas cheap to live in?
Texas's overall price level is 97.1, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). That is below average.
Find the cities that fit your family
Answer a few quick questions and get your shortlist, ranked on what you care about. Free, no account.
Notes on the numbers
- 1Median listing: Realtor.com via FRED. Price level: BEA regional price parities, 2024 (US = 100). 2-bed rent: Census ACS, 2025. Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
- 2Median listing: Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. Prices vs US average: BEA regional price parities, 2024. 2-bed rent: Census ACS, 2025.
Sources for this page
- Realtor.com median listing price by metro via FRED, September 2026
- BEA regional price parities via FRED, 2024
- Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026
- Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities)
- © Realtor.com, Housing Inventory Core Metrics (median listing price and median listing price per square foot), retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis