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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And most of the time, on a $75K salary, 39 cities (98%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 40 cities in Texas using 2026 census, rent, and…
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 39 cities (98%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
The race is tight: Amarillo, Mcallen, Beaumont, Killeen, Tyler are all within 3 points of each other. At this level, differences in rent, taxes, or a single category can sway the decision.
Rent in #1-ranked Amarillo has increased from $1,204 to $1,245/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And most of the time, on a $75K salary, 39 cities (98%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 40 cities in Texas using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Amarillo comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
The real story isn't in the ranking — it's in the details below. 39 of 40 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 39 cities (98%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. That's a margin of safety most budgets don't have.
Dive into Amarillo's numbers: cost index 89 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — (23 points below national average), rent $1,245/month, income $62,469, and a home price of $202,835. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 73, while Healthcare runs 92. With 202,408 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs (that's pre-tax, of course).
On a $75K salary, the key number is $1,875/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. You get the picture. Amarillo ($1,245/mo, 20%), Mcallen ($1,272/mo, 20%), Beaumont ($1,275/mo, 20%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $57,710 to $57,710/year across these top picks.
Still, the overall picture holds: Texas — no income tax, massive metros, and wide-open affordability. And for many people, the 40 cities we track here average a cost index of 99 and median income of $79,780. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,536/month, which is $359 less than the national median (that's pre-tax, of course).
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
#1 Ranked: Amarillo — cost index 89, rent $1,245/mo, income $62,469
39 of 40 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K
39 of 40 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amarillo | $1,245 | 20% | 89 | Details |
| 2 | Mcallen | $1,272 | 20% | 91 | Details |
| 3 | Beaumont | $1,275 | 20% | 88 | Details |
| 4 | Killeen | $1,280 | 20% | 90 | Details |
| 5 | Tyler | $1,290 | 21% | 92 | Details |
| 6 | Pasadena | $1,318 | 21% | 91 | Details |
| 7 | Laredo | $1,327 | 21% | 91 | Details |
| 8 | San Antonio | $1,361 | 22% | 93 | Details |
| 9 | Waco | $1,368 | 22% | 91 | Details |
| 10 | Lubbock | $1,388 | 22% | 92 | Details |
| 11 | Mesquite | $1,397 | 22% | 94 | Details |
| 12 | Corpus Christi | $1,433 | 23% | 93 | Details |
| 13 | El Paso | $1,441 | 23% | 94 | Details |
| 14 | Arlington | $1,462 | 23% | 98 | Details |
| 15 | Denton | $1,491 | 24% | 100 | Details |
| 16 | Carrollton | $1,517 | 24% | 103 | Details |
| 17 | Conroe | $1,524 | 24% | 99 | Details |
| 18 | Austin | $1,531 | 24% | 107 | Details |
| 19 | Houston | $1,542 | 25% | 97 | Details |
| 20 | Fort Worth | $1,554 | 25% | 98 | Details |
| 21 | Garland | $1,563 | 25% | 98 | Details |
| 22 | New Braunfels | $1,567 | 25% | 101 | Details |
| 23 | Lewisville | $1,573 | 25% | 103 | Details |
| 24 | Midland | $1,585 | 25% | 100 | Details |
| 25 | Irving | $1,587 | 25% | 101 | Details |
| 26 | Dallas | $1,591 | 25% | 99 | Details |
| 27 | Round Rock | $1,593 | 25% | 104 | Details |
| 28 | Grand Prairie | $1,602 | 26% | 100 | Details |
| 29 | Odessa | $1,612 | 26% | 97 | Details |
| 30 | Brownsville | $1,621 | 26% | 95 | Details |
| 31 | Allen | $1,634 | 26% | 109 | Details |
| 32 | Mckinney | $1,675 | 27% | 109 | Details |
| 33 | Richardson | $1,676 | 27% | 107 | Details |
| 34 | Plano | $1,717 | 27% | 110 | Details |
| 35 | Frisco | $1,751 | 28% | 118 | Details |
| 36 | College Station | $1,755 | 28% | 104 | Details |
| 37 | Abilene | $1,758 | 28% | 98 | Details |
| 38 | League | $1,764 | 28% | 105 | Details |
| 39 | Pearland | $1,797 | 29% | 106 | Details |
| 40 | Sugar Land | $1,990 | 32% | 112 | Details |
202,408 residents · Texas
A closer look at Amarillo: the cost index of 89 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — breaks down to a Housing index of 73 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 92 (weakest). Median rent is $1,245/month — 34% below the national median — while household income sits at $62,469, meaning locals spend about 24% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard (that's pre-tax, of course).
146,593 residents · Texas
No sugarcoating: Mcallen is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,272/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 91. Income sits at $60,165. That tracks.
112,193 residents · Texas
A closer look at Beaumont: the cost index of 88 breaks down to a Housing index of 70 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 90 (weakest). That alone makes it worth considering. Median rent is $1,275/month — 33% below the national median — while household income sits at $57,530, meaning locals spend about 27% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
159,643 residents · Texas
A closer look at Killeen: the cost index of 90 breaks down to a Housing index of 76 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 93 (weakest). And with some exceptions, median rent is $1,280/month — 32% below the national median — while household income sits at $58,339, meaning locals spend about 26% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
110,327 residents · Texas
Look, the #5 spot goes to Tyler, and the breakdown explains why. That's a reasonable number. Renters here pay $1,290/month — saving renters $7,260 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 80, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 95. At a 24% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Amarillo | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $57,710 |
2Mcallen | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $57,710 |
3Beaumont | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $57,710 |
4Killeen | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $57,710 |
5Tyler | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $57,710 |
6Pasadena | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $57,710 |
7Laredo | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $57,710 |
8San Antonio | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $57,710 |
9Waco | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $57,710 |
10Lubbock | 0% | 8.19% | 1.6% | $57,710 |
Amarillo ranks #1 in Texas for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and median income of $62,469.
Yes. On a $75K salary in Amarillo, rent would consume about 20% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Amarillo (ranked #1) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,245/mo, while Sugar Land (ranked #40) has a cost index of 112 and rent of $1,990/mo — a 23-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Amarillo is $1,245/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $650 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 0% state income tax, estimated take-home on $75K in Amarillo is approximately $57,710/year ($4,809/month). After median rent of $1,245/month, you'd have roughly $42,770/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Amarillo is $202,835, which is 3.2× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Texas has a 0% state income tax rate — one of the states with no income tax. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.19%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.6%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.