What it actually costs to live in Texas.
Texas’s cost-of-living index sits at 95 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #34 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Texas costs about 5% LESS than the US average. Median home price: $375,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,192/mo.
Texas cost components
| Component | Texas | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 95 | 100 |
| Median home price | $375,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,192/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $210/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Texas compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Texas ranks #34 for cost. That places Texas in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Texas metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Houston has very different housing dynamics than smaller Texas metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- HoustonCOL 101 · home $320,000rent $1,262/mo →
- DallasCOL 105 · home $370,000rent $1,275/mo →
- San AntonioCOL 92 · home $270,000rent $899/mo →
- AustinCOL 121 · home $500,000rent $1,300/mo →
- Fort WorthCOL 99 · home $330,000rent $1,354/mo →
- El PasoCOL 84 · home $195,000rent $745/mo →
- Corpus ChristiCOL 92 · home $240,000rent $975/mo →
- LaredoCOL 83 · home $175,000rent $825/mo →
- LubbockCOL 87 · home $195,000rent $875/mo →
- AmarilloCOL 87 · home $185,000rent $850/mo →
Texas cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Texas?
Texas's MERIC cost-of-living index is 95 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Texas costs about 5% less than the US average.
What is the median home price in Texas?
Texas's state-level median home price is approximately $375,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Texas?
Texas's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,192/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Texas-specific cost-of-living quirks?
High property taxes (1.68% effective) plus MUD (Municipal Utility District) bonds in suburban Houston/Austin add $0.50–$1.50 per $100 valuation, often surprising buyers in new-build communities.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.