Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Dallas County, TX would need to be about $35,465 in Cameron County, TX, or $14,535 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Dallas County, TX vs Cameron County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Cameron County, TX is cheaper than Dallas County, TX.
Moving to Cameron County, TX is estimated to save $15,558 per year.
Cheaper County
Cameron County, TXSave about $15,558 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Dallas County, TX is about $35,465 in Cameron County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,468 per year. Housing saves $9,419 per year.
Housing: $9,419 lower in Cameron County, TX
Taxes: $3,093 lower in Cameron County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $805 lower in Cameron County, TX
Food: $600 lower in Cameron County, TX
Transport: $1,468 higher in Cameron County, TX
Dallas County, TX→Cameron County, TX
Equivalent salary in Cameron County, TX
$35,465
-29.07% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Dallas County, TX: $85,452
Median Income in Cameron County, TX: $58,672
Living Index in Dallas County, TX 62.63%
Living Index in Cameron County, TX 64.70%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Dallas County, TX to Cameron 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 Dallas County, TX to Cameron County, TX is estimated to save $15,558 per year. A $50,000 salary in Dallas County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $35,465 in Cameron County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and other costs.
This is a -29.07% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $9,419 per year lower (-54.1%); Other Costs is $3,111 per year lower (-46.87%).
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 Dallas County, TX and Cameron County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 62.6% of median family income in Dallas County, TX and 64.7% in Cameron County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $9,419 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Dallas County, TX. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Cameron County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $600 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Dallas County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Cameron County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,468 per year higher in Cameron County, TX than in Dallas 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 Cameron County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $805 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Dallas County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Cameron County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,111 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Dallas County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Cameron County, TX help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Dallas County, TX and Cameron County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Cameron County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $3,093 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Dallas County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Cameron 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 Cameron County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Cameron County, TX
Annual Increase:
$1,468 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Cameron County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Cameron County, TX
Annual Savings:
$9,419 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Cameron County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -54% lower | |
| Food | -15% lower | |
| Transport | 13% higher | |
| Healthcare | -15% lower | |
| Other Costs | -47% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -36% lower |
In Cameron County, TX, modeled annual costs are $37,959 compared with $53,517 in Dallas County, TX.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Cameron County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Cameron County, TX and Dallas County, TX are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
