Cost of Living in Texas for a Family of Four (2026)
A family of four in Texas needs about $7,572 a month ($90,869 a year) to cover a typical household budget before saving. That is 3% below the U.S. average of $7,777 and ranks #23 of 51, where #1 is the most expensive.
Rent is close to the national average. Texas's rent level is 97% of the national average, so a typical three-bedroom rental with utilities runs about $1,959 a month, compared with $2,030 nationally. Everyday goods such as groceries and clothing cost 2% less than the national average, which puts this family's grocery bill at about $1,023 a month on the USDA low-cost food plan.
To cover this budget and still save 15% of take-home pay, a family would need about $8,909 a month after taxes ($106,905 a year).
Monthly budget in Texas by household
The family is two parents aged 38 and 40 with children aged 9 and 4, the youngest in paid childcare, renting a three-bedroom home. The couple is two adults aged 35 and the single adult is 30, each renting a one-bedroom home.
| Category | Family of four | Couple | Single adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing & utilities | $1,959 | $1,281 | $1,281 |
| Groceries | $1,023 | $640 | $349 |
| Dining out & takeout | $256 | $160 | $87 |
| Transportation | $1,205 | $1,205 | $602 |
| Health care | $680 | $447 | $223 |
| Childcare | $1,066 | $0 | $0 |
| Phone & internet | $155 | $155 | $115 |
| Clothing | $214 | $151 | $107 |
| Household & personal care | $248 | $175 | $124 |
| Entertainment & hobbies | $388 | $274 | $194 |
| Gifts, giving & other | $380 | $269 | $190 |
| Total per month | $7,572 | $4,756 | $3,272 |
| Total per year | $90,869 | $57,075 | $39,269 |
Estimates for 2026 from LifeCalculator's family budget model: BEA Regional Price Parities by state (2024, released February 2026), USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home (August 2026, low-cost plan), BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey (2024), Census median gross rent (2024) and Child Care Aware of America (2025). Figures from 2024 are adjusted by about 5% for price changes since. Savings and income taxes are not included.
What moves the number
- Childcare. Paid care for the 4-year-old adds about $1,066 a month. Without it, the family budget falls to about $6,506.
- Housing. The figure assumes renting at the state's typical level. Rents in big cities run well above the state average, and rural areas well below it.
- Cars. Transportation assumes typical costs for two drivers, including a car payment. Families with paid-off cars spend less.
- Price level. Overall, prices in Texas are 3% below the national average (BEA all-items index 97.1).
States with similar costs
- Illinois: $7,770 a month (#20)
- Delaware: $7,713 a month (#21)
- Minnesota: $7,597 a month (#22)
- Georgia: $7,431 a month (#24)
- Pennsylvania: $7,416 a month (#25)
- Vermont: $7,408 a month (#26)
See all 50 states and D.C. on the cost of living by state page, or read what it costs a family of four to live in every state.
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