Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Collin County, TX would need to be about $33,270 in Refugio County, TX, or $16,730 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Collin County, TX vs Refugio County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Refugio County, TX is cheaper than Collin County, TX.
Moving to Refugio County, TX is estimated to save $20,865 per year.
Cheaper County
Refugio County, TXSave about $20,865 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Collin County, TX is about $33,270 in Refugio County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,506 per year. Housing saves $12,755 per year.
Housing: $12,755 lower in Refugio County, TX
Taxes: $4,823 lower in Refugio County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $163 higher in Refugio County, TX
Food: $762 lower in Refugio County, TX
Transport: $1,506 higher in Refugio County, TX
Collin County, TX→Refugio County, TX
Equivalent salary in Refugio County, TX
$33,270
-33.46% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Collin County, TX: $140,955
Median Income in Refugio County, TX: $67,316
Living Index in Collin County, TX 44.24%
Living Index in Refugio County, TX 61.63%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Collin County, TX to Refugio County, TX.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Collin County, TX to Refugio County, TX is estimated to save $20,865 per year. A $50,000 salary in Collin County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $33,270 in Refugio County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -33.46% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $12,755 per year lower (-60.05%); Taxes is $4,823 per year lower (-43.49%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Collin County, TX and Refugio County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 44.2% of median family income in Collin County, TX and 61.6% in Refugio County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $12,755 per year lower in Refugio County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Refugio County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $762 per year lower in Refugio County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Refugio County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,506 per year higher in Refugio County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Refugio County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $163 per year higher in Refugio County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Refugio County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,196 per year lower in Refugio County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Refugio County, TX help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Collin County, TX and Refugio County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Refugio County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,823 per year lower in Refugio County, TX than in Collin County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Refugio County, TX matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Refugio County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Refugio County, TX
Annual Increase:
$1,506 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Refugio County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Refugio County, TX
Annual Savings:
$12,755 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Refugio County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -60% lower | |
| Food | -18% lower | |
| Transport | 12% higher | |
| Healthcare | 3% higher | |
| Other Costs | -53% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -43% lower |
In Refugio County, TX, modeled annual costs are $41,489 compared with $62,354 in Collin County, TX.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Refugio County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Refugio County, TX is not a metropolitan location, while Collin County, TX is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
