Washington to Texas: Cost of Living Comparison
Moving from Washington to Texas, the cost of living is about 9.3% cheaper. To keep the same standard of living you have on $100,000 in Washington, you'd need roughly $90,748 in Texas — a cut of about $9,252.
| Washington | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US avg = 100) | 107.0 | 97.1 |
| Salary to match $100,000 | $100,000 | $90,748 |
| Purchasing power of $100,000 | $100,000 | $110,196 |
Based on BEA 2024 Regional Price Parities (all-items). Texas is at 97.1 vs Washington at 107.0 on the national-average scale of 100.
Want to try your own salary or a different pair of states? Use the interactive cost-of-living calculator →
How the Washington → Texas comparison works
Cost of living differs from place to place because the same basket of goods, services and — above all — housing costs different amounts. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures this with Regional Price Parities (RPP): an index where the national average is 100. Washington sits at 107.0 and Texas at 97.1, which means everyday spending in Texas costs about 9.3% less than in Washington.
To keep the same standard of living you enjoy on $100,000 in Washington, you would need about $90,748 in Texas. Looked at the other way, if you moved with the same $100,000 paycheck, its real purchasing power once you're paying Texas prices would feel like $110,196.
Remember this is a statewide, all-items average. Your actual experience depends heavily on where exactly you live, whether you rent or own, and your lifestyle — and it doesn't account for the difference in income tax between the two states, which you can model separately in the take-home-pay tools below.
Equivalent salary at other income levels
| Your salary in Washington | Equivalent in Texas | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $45,374 | −$4,626 |
| $75,000 | $68,061 | −$6,939 |
| $100,000 | $90,748 | −$9,252 |
| $150,000 | $136,121 | −$13,879 |
| $200,000 | $181,495 | −$18,505 |
See your take-home pay in each state
Cost of living is only half the picture — income tax changes what you actually keep. Compare paychecks:
Move from Washington to another state
⚠️ Cost-of-living estimate based on BEA 2024 Regional Price Parities (all-items, statewide average). Real costs vary by city, housing and lifestyle, and this does not include the difference in state income tax. For general guidance only — not financial advice.