Cost of living in Texas
Prices in Texas are 2.9% below the US average (25th highest of 51). Texas has no income tax on wages. State sales tax: 6.25%.
Price levels in Texas
| BEA RPP 2024 | Texas | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.1 | −2.9% |
| Goods | 98.1 | −1.9% |
| Housing (rents) | 96.5 | −3.5% |
| Utilities | 87.5 | −12.5% |
| Other services | 97.1 | −2.9% |
Metros in Texas
Metros whose principal city is in Texas. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 8,477,157 | 103.1 | $1,807 | $194 | $1,010 |
| Houston, TX | 7,904,627 | 98.6 | $1,497 | $185 | $1,327 |
| San Antonio, TX | 2,813,140 | 94.7 | $1,441 | $171 | $1,456 |
| Austin, TX | 2,620,945 | 98.1 | $1,817 | $229 | $1,122 |
| McAllen, TX | 921,549 | 85.9 | $1,017 | $144 | $1,846 |
| El Paso, TX | 881,291 | 89.9 | $1,146 | $122 | $1,683 |
| Killeen, TX | 511,497 | 91.1 | $1,138 | $133 | $1,725 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 451,191 | 92.7 | $1,421 | $153 | $1,476 |
| Brownsville, TX | 433,946 | 86.0 | $1,042 | $154 | $1,768 |
| Beaumont, TX | 399,310 | 90.0 | $1,218 | $135 | $1,666 |
| Lubbock, TX | 368,431 | 91.3 | $1,241 | $146 | $1,602 |
| Waco, TX | 308,807 | 92.5 | $1,297 | $134 | $1,623 |
| Longview, TX | 297,315 | 89.5 | $1,232 | $124 | $1,611 |
| College Station, TX | 287,476 | 91.0 | $1,151 | $154 | $1,595 |
| Laredo, TX | 281,224 | 87.0 | $1,157 | $126 | $1,697 |
| Amarillo, TX | 276,235 | 91.8 | $1,107 | $147 | $1,748 |
| Tyler, TX | 252,549 | 92.2 | $1,277 | $124 | $1,611 |
| Midland, TX | 193,139 | 95.8 | $1,794 | $155 | $1,244 |
| Abilene, TX | 185,429 | 90.4 | $1,310 | $124 | $1,605 |
| Odessa, TX | 173,801 | 93.9 | $1,522 | $155 | $1,423 |
| Sherman, TX | 153,613 | 93.8 | $1,395 | $138 | $1,526 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 149,448 | 89.5 | $1,145 | $130 | $1,703 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 146,816 | 84.0 | $1,118 | $121 | $1,780 |
| San Angelo, TX | 122,065 | 92.5 | $1,350 | $113 | $1,620 |
| Victoria, TX | 99,864 | 89.8 | $1,428 | $124 | $1,506 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | 58,823 | 83.8 | $1,014 | $130 | $1,721 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Texas (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Texas income tax | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Texas payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,530 | $5,133 | $7,771 | $8,765 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro).
Childcare prices across Texas
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $144 | $9,153 | $131 |
| Toddler (2) | $136 | $8,645 | $126 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $133 | $8,454 | $124 |
| School-age (5–12) | $126 | $8,009 | $120 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $113 a week in Tom Green County to $229 in Travis County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 254 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | $180,400 | $3,660 | 2.03% |
| Fort Bend County | $374,500 | $6,965 | 1.86% |
| Crosby County | $80,900 | $1,480 | 1.83% |
| Webb County | $189,900 | $3,421 | 1.80% |
| Lynn County | $147,300 | $2,604 | 1.77% |
| Goliad County | $192,500 | $1,812 | 0.94% |
| Martin County | $174,800 | $1,587 | 0.91% |
| Callahan County | $145,500 | $1,318 | 0.91% |
| Bandera County | $278,400 | $2,438 | 0.88% |
| Irion County | $204,400 | $1,424 | 0.70% |
Five highest and five lowest of 86 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Texas
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 556,156 in, 483,476 out (net +72,680).
- California45,447 ±6,640
- Florida45,259 ±12,219
- Oklahoma28,074 ±3,746
- Colorado27,574 ±4,594
- Georgia20,968 ±3,871
- Louisiana19,850 ±3,560
- Illinois18,189 ±3,474
- North Carolina16,498 ±3,764
Frequently asked questions
Is Texas expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Texas’s overall price level at 97.1 in 2024 (US = 100), the 25th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 96.5 and goods 98.1.
Does Texas have a state income tax?+
No — Texas does not tax wages.
What is the sales tax in Texas?+
The state rate is 6.25% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Texas?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, McAllen, TX leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,846), and Dallas, TX the least ($1,010).