Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Denton County, TX would need to be about $31,550 in Cameron County, TX, or $18,450 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Denton County, TX vs Cameron County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Cameron County, TX is cheaper than Denton County, TX.
Moving to Cameron County, TX is estimated to save $22,201 per year.
Cheaper County
Cameron County, TXSave about $22,201 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Denton County, TX is about $31,550 in Cameron County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $144 per year. Housing saves $11,469 per year.
Housing: $11,469 lower in Cameron County, TX
Taxes: $4,901 lower in Cameron County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,159 lower in Cameron County, TX
Food: $958 lower in Cameron County, TX
Transport: $144 higher in Cameron County, TX
Denton County, TX→Cameron County, TX
Equivalent salary in Cameron County, TX
$31,550
-36.9% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Denton County, TX: $132,005
Median Income in Cameron County, TX: $58,672
Living Index in Denton County, TX 45.57%
Living Index in Cameron County, TX 64.70%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Denton 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 Denton County, TX to Cameron County, TX is estimated to save $22,201 per year. A $50,000 salary in Denton County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $31,550 in Cameron County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -36.9% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $11,469 per year lower (-58.93%); Taxes is $4,901 per year lower (-46.79%).
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 Denton 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 45.6% of median family income in Denton 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 $11,469 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Denton 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 $958 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Denton 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 $144 per year higher in Cameron County, TX than in Denton 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 $1,159 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Denton 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 $3,859 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Denton 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 Denton 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 $4,901 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Denton 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:
$144 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:
$11,469 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 | -59% lower | |
| Food | -22% lower | |
| Transport | 1% higher | |
| Healthcare | -20% lower | |
| Other Costs | -52% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -47% lower |
In Cameron County, TX, modeled annual costs are $37,959 compared with $60,160 in Denton 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 Denton County, TX are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
