Cost of living in Texas

Everyday prices in Texas run 2.9% below the US average, the 27th lowest of 51 states and DC.

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.

3% cheaperEveryday prices¹27th lowest of 51
$355,765Typical home^2,3$1,955/mo mortgage
$1,533/mo2-bed rent⁴Utilities included
$129,337$150K in New York¹Buys the same life in Texas

Texas cities we cover

Cheapest first. Tap one for monthly costs, weather and flights.^1,2,4

Anthony Acosta / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
McAllen14% cheaper than average
Home
$258,750
Mortgage
$1,422/mo
2-bed rent
$1,030
See McAllen
Michael Barera / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Texarkana16% cheaper than average
Home
$275,000
Mortgage
$1,511/mo
2-bed rent
$1,006
See Texarkana
El Paso10% cheaper than average
Home
$314,987
Mortgage
$1,731/mo
2-bed rent
$1,100
See El Paso
San Antonio5% cheaper than average
Home
$320,374
Mortgage
$1,761/mo
2-bed rent
$1,460
See San Antonio
Houston1% cheaper than average
Home
$353,995
Mortgage
$1,945/mo
2-bed rent
$1,562
See Houston
Dallas-Fort Worth3% pricier than average
Home
$422,495
Mortgage
$2,322/mo
2-bed rent
$1,794
See Dallas-Fort Worth
Austin2% cheaper than average
Home
$446,450
Mortgage
$2,453/mo
2-bed rent
$1,836
See Austin

Texas next to New York and the US

Longer bar = costs more.^1,4,2,3

TexasUnited StatesNew York metro

Everyday prices
3% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 13% pricier
Housing, rent included
3% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 49% pricier
2-bedroom rent$1,533/mo
2% less than the USUS $1,563 · New York metro $1,997
Typical home for sale$355,765
15% less than the USUS $419,250 · New York metro $742,000Mortgage $1,955/mo, US $2,304, New York metro $4,078. 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32%.

How affordable is Texas?

Rent and home prices next to what households earn.⁶

$85,060

Typical household incomeA year · 31st highest of 51

22%

Of income goes to rentA year of 2-bed rent ($1,533/mo) against median income ($85,060). 40th lowest of 51.

4.2

Years of income to buy a home$355,765 median listing against $85,060 income. 14th lowest of 50.

Are people moving to Texas?

67,299 more people moved to Texas from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

YearLeftArrivedNet moves
2019-20+162,299
2020-21+199,360
2021-22+218,840
2022-23+188,667
2023-24+86,067
2024-25+67,299

Where Americans are moving⁵

Metro areas in Texas

Cheapest first. Tap one for its full cost of living.^1,4,2

Price levelUS averageShorter bar = cheaper, longer = pricier

Show 3 more

Texas next to its neighbors

The states that border Texas, on the same measures. The number is each state's national rank on everyday prices.^1,4,2

1Arkansas13% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,014
Typical home
$318,743
Net moves
+14,475
4Oklahoma12% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,085
Typical home
$296,643
Net moves
+14,492
5Louisiana12% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,105
Typical home
$270,000
Net moves
-14,387
15New Mexico8% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,133
Typical home
$399,475
Net moves
-2,267
27TexasThis state3% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,533
Typical home
$355,765
Net moves
+67,299

Texas by the numbers

Every figure on this page, as tables

Texas next to New York and the US

Place	Price level	Housing	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent
Texas	97.1	96.5	$355,765	$1,955	$1,533
United States	100.0	100.0	$419,250	$2,304	$1,563
New York metro	112.6	148.6	$742,000	$4,078	$1,997

Texas cities we cover

City	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent	Price level
McAllen	$258,750	$1,422	$1,030	85.9
Texarkana	$275,000	$1,511	$1,006	84.0
El Paso	$314,987	$1,731	$1,100	89.9
San Antonio	$320,374	$1,761	$1,460	94.7
Houston	$353,995	$1,945	$1,562	98.6
Dallas-Fort Worth	$422,495	$2,322	$1,794	103.1
Austin	$446,450	$2,453	$1,836	98.1

Metro areas in Texas

Metro	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home
Texarkana, TX/AR	84.0	$1,006	$275,000
McAllen, TX	85.9	$1,030	$258,750
El Paso, TX	89.9	$1,100	$314,987
San Antonio, TX	94.7	$1,460	$320,374
Austin, TX	98.1	$1,836	$446,450
Houston, TX	98.6	$1,562	$353,995
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	103.1	$1,794	$422,495

Texas next to its neighbors

State	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home	Net moves from other states
Texas	97.1	$1,533	$355,765	+67,299
Arkansas	86.9	$1,014	$318,743	+14,475
Louisiana	88.2	$1,105	$270,000	-14,387
New Mexico	92.2	$1,133	$399,475	-2,267
Oklahoma	87.8	$1,085	$296,643	+14,492

Net moves from other states

Year (July to July)	Net moves from other states
2019-20	+162,299
2020-21	+199,360
2021-22	+218,840
2022-23	+188,667
2023-24	+86,067
2024-25	+67,299

States with a similar cost of living to Texas

Keep comparing

Texas cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Texas?

Everyday prices in Texas run 2.9% below the US average, the 27th lowest of 51 states and DC (BEA, 2024). Housing costs, rent included, index at 96.5 against a US average of 100. The median listed home is $355,765 (Realtor.com, September 2026), about $1,955 a month in principal and interest. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,533 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $129,337 in Texas.

Is Texas cheap or expensive to live in?

Cheaper than average. Texas's regional price parity is 97.1, so the same basket of goods, services and rent costs 2.9% less than the US average (BEA, 2024).

How much does a house cost in Texas?

The median listed home in Texas is $355,765 as of September 2026 (Realtor.com via FRED), against $419,250 nationally. That ranks 17th lowest of 50. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest run about $1,955 a month.

How much is rent in Texas?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in Texas is $1,533 a month, including utilities the renter pays, against $1,563 for the US (Census American Community Survey, 2025).

What salary in Texas equals $150,000 in New York?

About $129,337, using BEA regional price parities for Texas (97.1) and the New York metro (112.6), 2024.

Are people moving to Texas?

67,299 more people moved to Texas from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

Which Texas cities do you cover?

McAllen ($258,750), Texarkana ($275,000), El Paso ($314,987), San Antonio ($320,374), Houston ($353,995), Dallas-Fort Worth ($422,495), Austin ($446,450). Each has its own page with monthly costs, weather and flights.

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.

Find my cities

Notes on the numbers

1Everyday prices, housing costs and price levels: BEA regional price parities via FRED, 2024, where the US average is 100. In ranked lists, 1 is the cheapest.
2Homes: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
3Mortgage: 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.
4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units, including utilities.
5Net moves: US Census Bureau population estimates, net domestic migration, July to July.
6Affordability: our arithmetic on Census median gross rent (2025), Census median household income (2025) and Realtor.com median listing price (September 2026). Rank 1 is the most affordable.

Sources for this page