Fort Bend County, TX vs San Augustine County, TX: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

San Augustine County, TX is cheaper than Fort Bend County, TX.

Moving to San Augustine County, TX is estimated to save $17,088 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

San Augustine County, TXSave about $17,088 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Fort Bend County, TX is about $35,655 in San Augustine County, TX.

Biggest drivers

Transport increases by $309 per year. Housing saves $9,608 per year.

Housing: $9,608 lower in San Augustine County, TX

Taxes: $3,847 lower in San Augustine County, TX

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $642 lower in San Augustine County, TX

Food: $243 lower in San Augustine County, TX

Transport: $309 higher in San Augustine County, TX

Fort Bend County, TXSan Augustine County, TX
Equivalent salary in San Augustine County, TX
$35,655
-28.69% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Fort Bend County, TX: $127,048
Median Income in San Augustine County, TX: $50,014
Living Index in Fort Bend County, TX 46.88%
Living Index in San Augustine County, TX 84.91%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Fort Bend County, TX to San Augustine 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 Fort Bend County, TX to San Augustine County, TX is estimated to save $17,088 per year. A $50,000 salary in Fort Bend County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $35,655 in San Augustine County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -28.69% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $9,608 per year lower (-51.11%); Taxes is $3,847 per year lower (-37.33%).

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 Fort Bend County, TX and San Augustine County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Fort Bend County, TX would need to be about $35,655 in San Augustine County, TX, or $14,345 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 46.9% of median family income in Fort Bend County, TX and 84.9% in San Augustine County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $9,608 per year lower in San Augustine County, TX than in Fort Bend County, TX. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether San Augustine County, TX changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $243 per year lower in San Augustine County, TX than in Fort Bend County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in San Augustine County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $309 per year higher in San Augustine County, TX than in Fort Bend 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 San Augustine County, TX.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $642 per year lower in San Augustine County, TX than in Fort Bend County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if San Augustine County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $3,059 per year lower in San Augustine County, TX than in Fort Bend County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in San Augustine County, TX help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Fort Bend County, TX and San Augustine County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in San Augustine County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $3,847 per year lower in San Augustine County, TX than in Fort Bend County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in San Augustine 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 San Augustine County, TX.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to San Augustine County, TX
Annual Increase:

$309 per year

TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to San Augustine County, TX.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to San Augustine County, TX
Annual Savings:

$9,608 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to San Augustine County, TX.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-51% lower
Food-6% lower
Transport2% higher
Healthcare-11% lower
Other Costs-43% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-37% lower

In San Augustine County, TX, modeled annual costs are $42,466 compared with $59,554 in Fort Bend County, TX.

Overall, annual costs are lower in San Augustine County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case San Augustine County, TX is not a metropolitan location, while Fort Bend County, TX is a metropolitan location.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Fort Bend County, TX vs San Augustine County, TX Cost of Living (2026)