Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Denton County, TX would need to be about $33,830 in Starr County, TX, or $16,170 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Denton County, TX vs Starr County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Starr County, TX is cheaper than Denton County, TX.
Moving to Starr County, TX is estimated to save $19,458 per year.
Cheaper County
Starr County, TXSave about $19,458 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Denton County, TX is about $33,830 in Starr County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,351 per year. Housing saves $10,977 per year.
Housing: $10,977 lower in Starr County, TX
Taxes: $4,362 lower in Starr County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $973 lower in Starr County, TX
Food: $831 lower in Starr County, TX
Transport: $1,351 higher in Starr County, TX
Denton County, TX→Starr County, TX
Equivalent salary in Starr County, TX
$33,830
-32.34% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Denton County, TX: $132,005
Median Income in Starr County, TX: $44,075
Living Index in Denton County, TX 45.57%
Living Index in Starr County, TX 92.35%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Denton County, TX to Starr 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 Starr County, TX is estimated to save $19,458 per year. A $50,000 salary in Denton County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $33,830 in Starr County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -32.34% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,977 per year lower (-56.41%); Taxes is $4,362 per year lower (-41.65%).
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 Starr 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 92.3% in Starr County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,977 per year lower in Starr 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 Starr County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $831 per year lower in Starr County, TX than in Denton County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Starr County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,351 per year higher in Starr 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 Starr County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $973 per year lower in Starr County, TX than in Denton County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Starr County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,666 per year lower in Starr County, TX than in Denton County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Starr 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 Starr County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Starr County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,362 per year lower in Starr County, TX than in Denton County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Starr 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 Starr County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Starr County, TX
Annual Increase:
$1,351 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Starr County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Starr County, TX
Annual Savings:
$10,977 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Starr County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -56% lower | |
| Food | -19% lower | |
| Transport | 11% higher | |
| Healthcare | -17% lower | |
| Other Costs | -50% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -42% lower |
In Starr County, TX, modeled annual costs are $40,702 compared with $60,160 in Denton County, TX.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Starr County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Starr County, TX is not a metropolitan location, while Denton County, TX is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
