Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $1,170 in Texas versus $1,357 in Virginia. Overall, Texas runs roughly 14% cheaper on rent than Virginia, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $67,043 in Texas and $90,685 in Virginia — about 26% higher in Virginia. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
6.25%
5.3%
+1.0 pp in Texas
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.75%
+5.8 pp in Virginia
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,170
$1,357
+16% in Virginia
Median Home Value
$264,900
$366,300
+38% in Virginia
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$67,043
$90,685
+35% in Virginia
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
67.2°F
59.9°F
+7.3°F in Texas
Texas vs Virginia — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Texas or Virginia?
- Texas is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $1,170 runs about 14% below Virginia's $1,357, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Texas than in Virginia?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, based on median rent across tracked cities, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Texas versus $54,000 in Virginia.
- Which has lower taxes, Texas or Virginia?
- Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax. Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 8/1 cities we track in Texas/Virginia — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.