Cost of Living in Texas
Based on 8 cities we track in Texas.
Cost of living in Texas is shaped mostly by rent across the 8 cities we track there. A one-bedroom apartment runs around $1,170 a month — about the same as the $1,191 median across the 28 states we track.
Median household income across those cities is $67,043, 7% lower than the $71,716 median across the states we track. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.
State Medians
Median 1BR Rent
$1,170
Median Home Value
$264,900
Median Income
$67,043
Avg Temperature
67.2°F
Medians across the Texas cities we track — not a statewide population-weighted figure.
State Taxes
State Sales Tax
6.25%
State Income Tax (top rate)
None
Cities in Texas
Compare Texas with
Texas cost of living — FAQ
- Is Texas expensive to live in?
- Texas is around the middle of the 28 states we track. Its median one-bedroom rent of $1,170 ranks #17 of 28 and is about the same as the $1,191 median.
- What is the average rent in Texas?
- Across the 8 cities we track in Texas, average rent runs a studio around $1,115, a one-bedroom around $1,170, a two-bedroom around $1,384, a three-bedroom around $1,614 per month (US Census ACS).
- What is the median home price in Texas?
- The median home value across the cities we track in Texas is $264,900 — 17% lower than the $317,950 median across the states we track.
- Does Texas have a state income tax?
- No — Texas has no broad-based state income tax on wages. Its state sales tax rate is 6.25%; local jurisdictions may add more.
- How much do you need to earn to live in Texas?
- To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,170 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year. Median household income across the cities we track in Texas is $67,043.
Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).