Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Texas: 13 Cities Offering Maximum Purchasing Power

Texas has long attracted workers with its tax-friendly environment and reasonable living expenses. A comprehensive analysis based on 2023 U.S. Census data reveals which Texas cities offer residents the most impressive disposable income after covering basic necessities. The findings are striking: residents in the top-performing locations can accumulate between $18,000 to $48,000 annually in remaining funds.

Understanding the Data Behind Texas’s Best Cities to Live In

GOBankingRates examined America’s 100 most populous cities, cross-referencing median household income data with the actual cost of necessities in each location. The analysis considered housing expenses (based on 10% down payment mortgage calculations), utilities, food, and other essential costs using data from Sperling’s BestPlaces and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The results highlight a significant advantage for those considering relocation within Texas: a substantial gap exists between what residents earn and what they must spend on necessities.

The Rankings: How Your Paycheck Performs in Each Texas City

1. Plano - Maximum Savings Potential

• Median household income: $108,649
• Annual cost of necessities: $59,976
• Disposable income: $48,673

Plano leads the pack by a significant margin, offering the most generous surplus for savings and discretionary spending.

2. Fort Worth - Strong Financial Position

• Median household income: $76,602
• Annual cost of necessities: $46,456
• Disposable income: $30,146

3. Irving - Balanced Prosperity

• Median household income: $79,641
• Annual cost of necessities: $49,659
• Disposable income: $29,982

4. Garland - Solid Cost-to-Income Ratio

• Median household income: $74,717
• Annual cost of necessities: $46,285
• Disposable income: $28,432

5. Austin - Tech Hub Advantage

• Median household income: $91,461
• Annual cost of necessities: $63,080
• Disposable income: $28,381

6. Corpus Christi - Coastal Value

• Median household income: $66,325
• Annual cost of necessities: $38,489
• Disposable income: $27,836

7. Arlington - Metropolitan Efficiency

• Median household income: $73,519
• Annual cost of necessities: $47,499
• Disposable income: $26,020

8. Laredo - Border Town Benefits

• Median household income: $63,264
• Annual cost of necessities: $38,047
• Disposable income: $25,217

9. Lubbock - Emerging Opportunity

• Median household income: $60,487
• Annual cost of necessities: $37,502
• Disposable income: $22,985

10. San Antonio - Regional Center

• Median household income: $62,917
• Annual cost of necessities: $41,278
• Disposable income: $21,639

11. El Paso - Border Perspective

• Median household income: $58,734
• Annual cost of necessities: $38,963
• Disposable income: $19,771

12. Dallas - Major Metro Option

• Median household income: $67,760
• Annual cost of necessities: $48,271
• Disposable income: $19,489

13. Houston - Largest Urban Center

• Median household income: $62,894
• Annual cost of necessities: $44,285
• Disposable income: $18,609

What These Numbers Reveal About Texas Cities to Live In

The variation across these best cities to live in Texas demonstrates that higher income doesn’t automatically translate to greater purchasing power. Austin offers substantially higher median income than Corpus Christi ($91,461 vs. $66,325), yet Corpus Christi residents enjoy nearly equivalent disposable funds ($27,836 vs. $28,381) due to significantly lower cost-of-living expenses.

This pattern reveals an important insight for prospective movers: choosing a Texas city requires balancing salary opportunities against regional cost structures. Northern metropolitan areas like Plano, Fort Worth, and Irving command higher incomes but maintain reasonable housing and living costs, resulting in substantial surplus funds. Meanwhile, South Texas and border communities provide lower absolute incomes but offset this with dramatically reduced living expenses.

The data encompasses housing costs calculated at prevailing mortgage rates, essential utilities, groceries, transportation, and other baseline expenses required to maintain a household. These figures represent genuine purchasing capacity available after meeting fundamental needs—money that residents can direct toward debt repayment, investment, or additional quality-of-life expenses.

Data sourced from U.S. Census 2023 American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index, and Federal Reserve Economic Data. Analysis current as of August 18, 2025.