Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Fort Bend County, TX would need to be about $34,170 in Starr County, TX, or $15,830 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Fort Bend County, TX vs Starr County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Starr County, TX is cheaper than Fort Bend County, TX.
Moving to Starr County, TX is estimated to save $18,852 per year.
Cheaper County
Starr County, TXSave about $18,852 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Fort Bend County, TX is about $34,170 in Starr County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $608 per year. Housing saves $10,316 per year.
Housing: $10,316 lower in Starr County, TX
Taxes: $4,194 lower in Starr County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,143 lower in Starr County, TX
Food: $462 lower in Starr County, TX
Transport: $608 higher in Starr County, TX
Fort Bend County, TX→Starr County, TX
Equivalent salary in Starr County, TX
$34,170
-31.66% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Fort Bend County, TX: $127,048
Median Income in Starr County, TX: $44,075
Living Index in Fort Bend County, TX 46.88%
Living Index in Starr County, TX 92.35%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Fort Bend 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 Fort Bend County, TX to Starr County, TX is estimated to save $18,852 per year. A $50,000 salary in Fort Bend County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $34,170 in Starr County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -31.66% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,316 per year lower (-54.87%); Taxes is $4,194 per year lower (-40.69%).
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 Starr County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 46.9% of median family income in Fort Bend 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 $10,316 per year lower in Starr 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 Starr County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $462 per year lower in Starr County, TX than in Fort Bend 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 $608 per year higher in Starr 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 Starr County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,143 per year lower in Starr County, TX than in Fort Bend 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 $3,346 per year lower in Starr County, TX than in Fort Bend 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 Fort Bend 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 $4,194 per year lower in Starr County, TX than in Fort Bend 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:
$608 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:
$10,316 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 | -55% lower | |
| Food | -12% lower | |
| Transport | 5% higher | |
| Healthcare | -19% lower | |
| Other Costs | -47% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -41% lower |
In Starr County, TX, modeled annual costs are $40,702 compared with $59,554 in Fort Bend 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 Fort Bend County, TX is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
