USA Cost of Living Compare US cities and states with official data

Cost of living in Texas

Statewide averages from BEA, with every metro area in the state compared.

Overall prices vs US average 97.1 2.9% less expensive than the US officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Rank among 51 states and DC 25th 1st = most expensive derivedFrom BEA, 2024
Housing (rents) vs US average 96.5 20th highest housing costs officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Income per person, adjusted for prices $58,219 27th of 51, in 2017 dollars officialBEA real personal income, 2024

What the numbers say

  • Overall prices in Texas are 2.9% below the national average, the 25th most expensive of 51 states and DC (BEA 2024).
  • Within Texas, metro price levels run from 83.8 in Eagle Pass, TX to 103.1 in Dallas, TX (US = 100).
  • Unusually, housing is not what sets Texas apart (housing is 3.5% below average); most of the gap comes from goods (1.9% below average) and other services (2.9% below average).
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $58,219 in 2017 dollars, 27th of 51 (BEA 2024).
  • Relative to the US, the price level in Texas has barely moved: 97.1 in 2008, 98.5 in 2019 and 97.1 in 2024.

Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.

Where the money goes

Statewide price levels by category. Cities and rural areas within the state can differ a lot; see the metro table below.

In Texas, utilities is the category furthest from the US average: 12.5% below

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

All items
97.1
Goods
98.1
Housing (rents)
96.5
Utilities
87.5
Other services
97.1

Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Texas
All items97.1
Goods98.1
Housing (rents)96.5
Utilities87.5
Other services97.1

Gas prices

Regular gasoline averaged $3.70 a gallon in Texas (statewide average) in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.58 less than the US average of $4.28. official

Gas prices in Texas · Work out your commute's gas cost

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.

Cheapest places to live in Texas

By overall prices, the cheapest of the 26 metro areas BEA measures in Texas are Eagle Pass, TX (83.8), Texarkana, TX (84.0) and McAllen, TX (85.9); the most expensive is Dallas, TX (103.1). US average = 100, BEA 2024. Rural areas are not listed separately.

Eagle Pass, TX is the cheapest metro area in Texas (83.8); Dallas, TX the most expensive (103.1)

Overall price level, 2024. US average = 100.

Eagle Pass, TX
83.8
Texarkana, TX Spans TX, AR
84.0
McAllen, TX
85.9
Brownsville, TX
86.0
Laredo, TX
87.0
Longview, TX
89.5
Wichita Falls, TX
89.5
Victoria, TX
89.8
El Paso, TX
89.9
Beaumont, TX
90.0
Abilene, TX
90.4
College Station, TX
91.0
Killeen, TX
91.1
Lubbock, TX
91.3
Amarillo, TX
91.8
Tyler, TX
92.2
San Angelo, TX
92.5
Waco, TX
92.6
Corpus Christi, TX
92.7
Sherman, TX
93.8
Odessa, TX
93.9
San Antonio, TX
94.7
Midland, TX
95.8
Austin, TX
98.1
Houston, TX
98.6
Dallas, TX
103.1

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
All items
Eagle Pass, TX83.8
Texarkana, TX84.0
McAllen, TX85.9
Brownsville, TX86.0
Laredo, TX87.0
Longview, TX89.5
Wichita Falls, TX89.5
Victoria, TX89.8
El Paso, TX89.9
Beaumont, TX90.0
Abilene, TX90.4
College Station, TX91.0
Killeen, TX91.1
Lubbock, TX91.3
Amarillo, TX91.8
Tyler, TX92.2
San Angelo, TX92.5
Waco, TX92.6
Corpus Christi, TX92.7
Sherman, TX93.8
Odessa, TX93.9
San Antonio, TX94.7
Midland, TX95.8
Austin, TX98.1
Houston, TX98.6
Dallas, TX103.1
Metro area Overall Housing Goods Utilities Other services Typical rent
Eagle Pass, TX 83.8 53.7 93.8 81.9 96.2 $1,156
Texarkana, TX 84.0 49.9 93.7 79.3 95.9 $1,253
McAllen, TX 85.9 55.9 93.8 81.2 96.2 $1,119
Brownsville, TX 86.0 57.7 93.8 81.2 96.2 $1,509
Laredo, TX 87.0 59.7 93.8 80.6 96.2 $1,129
Longview, TX 89.5 66.7 93.8 83.5 96.2 $1,148
Wichita Falls, TX 89.5 68.2 93.8 84.1 96.2 $1,305
Victoria, TX 89.8 69.3 93.8 85.3 96.2 $1,169
El Paso, TX 89.9 71.2 93.8 82.6 96.2 $1,521
Beaumont, TX 90.0 70.9 93.8 83.1 96.2 $1,308
Abilene, TX 90.4 73.8 93.8 81.2 96.2 $1,990
College Station, TX 91.0 75.1 93.8 84.4 96.2 $1,504
Killeen, TX 91.1 77.9 93.8 81.2 96.2 $1,308
Lubbock, TX 91.3 76.4 93.8 82.8 96.2 $1,330
Amarillo, TX 91.8 78.4 93.8 83.5 96.2 $1,309
Tyler, TX 92.2 79.9 93.8 82.9 96.2 $1,313
San Angelo, TX 92.5 81.4 93.8 81.6 96.2 $1,319
Waco, TX 92.6 83.5 93.8 81.0 96.2 $1,419
Corpus Christi, TX 92.7 84.9 93.8 81.0 96.2 $1,425
Sherman, TX 93.8 89.5 93.8 83.3 96.2 $1,358
Odessa, TX 93.9 89.7 93.8 82.9 96.2 $1,580
San Antonio, TX 94.7 94.6 93.8 82.2 96.2 $1,415
Midland, TX 95.8 101.5 93.8 83.2 96.2 $1,571
Austin, TX 98.1 120.4 93.8 82.0 96.2 $1,603
Houston, TX 98.6 104.5 100.6 95.3 95.6 $1,638
Dallas, TX 103.1 117.9 102.8 90.7 99.7 $1,659

Price levels: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.

How prices have changed since 2008

Price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation.

Texas has stayed below the US average since 2008

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Texas
200897.1
200996.7
201097.7
201197.0
201297.7
201398.1
201498.4
201598.3
201698.1
201797.4
201897.8
201998.5
202098.8
202198.4
202297.4
202397.1
202497.1

Goods: 97.1 in 2008, 98.1 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Texas
200897.1
200996.1
201098.1
201196.5
201297.6
201397.6
201497.4
201597.1
201698.4
201797.1
201897.1
201997.9
202098.2
202198.5
202297.2
202398.1
202498.1

Housing (rents): 88.0 in 2008, 96.5 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Texas
200888.0
200988.2
201089.3
201189.7
201291.1
201391.4
201493.6
201594.0
201695.6
201795.2
201895.2
201995.8
202095.8
202195.6
202297.0
202397.5
202496.5

Utilities: 101.4 in 2008, 87.5 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Texas
2008101.4
200996.2
201098.1
201194.4
201293.1
201395.7
201494.9
201591.1
201691.9
201788.0
201887.5
201987.7
202085.0
202186.2
202288.7
202392.4
202487.5

Other services: 100.0 in 2008, 97.1 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Texas
2008100.0
2009100.4
2010100.3
2011100.1
2012100.4
2013101.0
2014101.1
2015101.1
201699.0
201798.9
201899.8
2019100.5
2020101.3
2021100.0
202298.2
202396.6
202497.1

What incomes buy here

BEA divides personal income by local prices, so a dollar in a cheap state counts for more. This is income per resident (wages, benefits, investment income), not household or take-home pay.

After adjusting for prices, income per person in Texas is $58,219, 27th of 51

Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for local price levels and inflation).

  • Texas
  • United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.

Show the numbers
TexasUnited States
2008$46,068$45,816
2009$43,349$44,204
2010$44,078$44,808
2011$46,663$45,957
2012$47,554$46,796
2013$47,301$46,358
2014$48,959$47,661
2015$48,983$49,396
2016$47,686$49,828
2017$49,918$51,006
2018$51,551$52,242
2019$52,343$53,683
2020$53,181$56,514
2021$56,442$59,365
2022$56,452$57,104
2023$57,708$58,088
2024$58,219$59,195

Compare Texas with other states

States with similar prices

All states ranked · States ranked by what income buys

Compare two cities

Sources and limits

  • Price levels and real income: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • Metro price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities by metro area. Typical rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group.
  • State figures average cities and rural areas. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.

Methodology · Data sources · Report an error