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Living in Texas · 2026

Is $24,000 enough to live in Texas?

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

Statewide verdict:Not recommended

Monthly take-home

$1,776

Avg monthly expenses

$2,407

Avg monthly surplus

$-631

Savings potential

~0%

After-tax take-home in Texas

Gross salary$24,000
Federal income tax− $850
State income tax− $0
Social Security− $1,488
Medicare− $348
Annual take-home$21,314
Effective tax rate11.19%

How $24,000 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

Not recommended
Rent (1BR)
$1,400
Food
$440
Transport
$189
Utilities
$178
Healthcare
$216
Total: $2,423/mo
Surplus: $-647/mo
Rent burden: 78.8% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Houston analysis →

Dallas

COL index: 1.13× national avg

Not recommended
Rent (1BR)
$1,500
Food
$462
Transport
$198
Utilities
$186
Healthcare
$226
Total: $2,572/mo
Surplus: $-796/mo
Rent burden: 84.5% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Dallas analysis →

Austin

COL index: 1.28× national avg

Not recommended
Rent (1BR)
$1,800
Food
$519
Transport
$224
Utilities
$211
Healthcare
$256
Total: $3,010/mo
Surplus: $-1,234/mo
Rent burden: 101.3% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Austin analysis →

San Antonio

COL index: 1.00× national avg

Very tight
Rent (1BR)
$1,250
Food
$418
Transport
$175
Utilities
$165
Healthcare
$200
Total: $2,208/mo
Surplus: $-432/mo
Rent burden: 70.4% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full San Antonio analysis →

Fort Worth

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Not recommended
Rent (1BR)
$1,400
Food
$449
Transport
$189
Utilities
$178
Healthcare
$216
Total: $2,432/mo
Surplus: $-656/mo
Rent burden: 78.8% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full Fort Worth analysis →

El Paso

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Very tight
Rent (1BR)
$950
Food
$387
Transport
$149
Utilities
$140
Healthcare
$170
Total: $1,796/mo
Surplus: $-20/mo
Rent burden: 53.5% — Unaffordable (> 50%)
Full El Paso analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $1,776 ($21,312/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%
Needs50%

$888

per month

  • ›Rent / mortgage
  • ›Groceries
  • ›Utilities
  • ›Insurance
  • ›Minimum debt payments
  • ›Transportation
Wants30%

$533

per month

  • ›Dining out
  • ›Streaming services
  • ›Gym
  • ›Hobbies
  • ›Travel
  • ›Shopping
Savings20%

$355

per month

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

Needs / year

$10,656

Wants / year

$6,394

Savings / year

$4,262

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Houston

Rent alone would take 79% of take-home income. This salary creates significant financial pressure in this city — a $56,000 annual income or lower rent is needed to reach affordability.

Lifestyle score: 1.8/10 (Difficult)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $24,000 salary does not fully cover typical living expenses for a single adult in Houston, Texas. Monthly costs exceed take-home pay by $647, indicating this income is insufficient for an independent lifestyle here without additional income or reduced spending.

Purchasing Power

Houston is near the national cost-of-living average (index: 1.08). $24,000 here is roughly equivalent to $41,111 in San Francisco or $19,556 in an affordable city like Birmingham.

State & National Benchmark

$24,000 is 44% below the Texas individual median of $42,500. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$42,500

-44%

State household median

$73,035

-67%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)
Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$24,000 vs. Texas income benchmarks

Individual median (Texas)

$42,500

-44% vs. this salary

Household median (Texas)

$73,035

-67% 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
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Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

Data updated monthly using government datasets.