Is $174,000 a good salary in Texas?

$174,000 in Texas provides a monthly take-home of approximately $10,835 after taxes. Across major Texas cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $8,428.

What is the cost of living on $174,000 in Texas?

The average monthly living cost across major Texas cities is approximately $2,407 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $174,000 take-home pay of $10,835/month, you would have roughly $8,428/month remaining.

Living in Texas · 2026

Is $174,000 enough to live in Texas?

Single adult · TX · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$10,835

Avg monthly expenses

$2,407

Avg monthly surplus

$8,428

Savings potential

~78%

After-tax take-home in Texas

Gross salary$174,000

Federal income tax− $30,674

State income tax− $0

Social Security− $10,788

Medicare− $2,523

Annual take-home$130,015

Effective tax rate25.28%

How $174,000 feels in Texas cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Houston

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$440

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,423/mo

Surplus: $8,412/mo

Rent burden: 12.9% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Houston analysis →

Dallas

COL index: 1.13× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,500

Food

$462

Transport

$198

Utilities

$186

Healthcare

$226

Total: $2,572/mo

Surplus: $8,263/mo

Rent burden: 13.8% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Dallas analysis →

Austin

COL index: 1.28× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,800

Food

$519

Transport

$224

Utilities

$211

Healthcare

$256

Total: $3,010/mo

Surplus: $7,825/mo

Rent burden: 16.6% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Austin analysis →

San Antonio

COL index: 1.00× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,250

Food

$418

Transport

$175

Utilities

$165

Healthcare

$200

Total: $2,208/mo

Surplus: $8,627/mo

Rent burden: 11.5% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full San Antonio analysis →

Fort Worth

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$449

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,432/mo

Surplus: $8,403/mo

Rent burden: 12.9% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Fort Worth analysis →

El Paso

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$387

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,796/mo

Surplus: $9,039/mo

Rent burden: 8.8% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full El Paso analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $10,835 ($130,020/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$5,418

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$3,251

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$2,167

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$65,010

Wants / year

$39,006

Savings / year

$26,004

Salary Intelligence

Excellent salary in Houston

At $174,000, housing costs only 13% of take-home income — well below the 25% threshold. This leaves strong room for savings, discretionary spending, and wealth building.

Lifestyle score: 8/10 (Very Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $174,000 salary comfortably supports a very good single lifestyle in Houston, Texas, with approximately $8,412/month (~78% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Houston is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 1.08). $174,000 here is roughly equivalent to $298,056 in San Francisco or $141,778 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$174,000 is 309% above the Texas individual median of $42,500 and 211% above the US national individual median of $56,000. This is a top-quartile income in this state.

State individual median

$42,500

+309%

State household median

$73,035

+138%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$174,000 vs. Texas income benchmarks

Individual median (Texas)

$42,500

+309% vs. this salary

Household median (Texas)

$73,035

+138% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Texas

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.