Rent, home prices, and cost of living in Texas

Among the cities we track, Mila Doce stands out as the most affordable option in Texas. The median home value there is $67,700, and monthly rent typically runs around $1,017. The local median household income is $50,921, which tends to go further here than in much of the state.

Bellaire is currently the priciest market in TX. Homes there are valued at a median of $1,177,018, and renters can expect to pay around $2,815/month. Incomes are higher too — the median household earns $244,015 — but whether that fully offsets the cost premium depends on your lifestyle.

This model applies no broad Texas wage-income tax; federal, payroll, local, investment, property, and sales taxes remain separate. The state-level effective owner-occupied property-tax proxy is 1.4% and is not an individual bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is 8.2%.

There's a huge range. In Mila Doce, the median home costs around $67,700. In Bellaire, that number jumps to $1,177,018 — roughly 16x more. Rents follow a similar pattern: approximately $1,017/month vs. $2,815/month. Where you choose to settle within TX can make a dramatic difference in your monthly budget.

It depends on your priorities and budget. Texas has a wide range of living costs depending on the city and no broad state wage-income tax in this model. Typical home values range from around $67,700 in lower-cost tracked places to $1,177,018 in higher-cost tracked places. Use the city comparison tool to compare housing, rent, state-level tax proxies, and everyday cost pressure across locations in TX.