Lubbock County, TX vs Cameron County, TX: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Cameron County, TX is cheaper than Lubbock County, TX.

Moving to Cameron County, TX is estimated to save $5,163 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Cameron County, TXSave about $5,163 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Lubbock County, TX is about $44,015 in Cameron County, TX.

Biggest drivers

Transport increases by $843 per year. Housing saves $2,041 per year.

Housing: $2,041 lower in Cameron County, TX

Taxes: $1,015 lower in Cameron County, TX

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $1,470 lower in Cameron County, TX

Food: $646 lower in Cameron County, TX

Transport: $843 higher in Cameron County, TX

Lubbock County, TXCameron County, TX
Equivalent salary in Cameron County, TX
$44,015
-11.97% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Lubbock County, TX: $82,282
Median Income in Cameron County, TX: $58,672
Living Index in Lubbock County, TX 52.41%
Living Index in Cameron County, TX 64.70%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Lubbock 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 Lubbock County, TX to Cameron County, TX is estimated to save $5,163 per year. A $50,000 salary in Lubbock County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $44,015 in Cameron County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and healthcare.

This is a -11.97% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $2,041 per year lower (-20.34%); Healthcare is $1,470 per year lower (-24.21%).

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 Lubbock County, TX and Cameron County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Lubbock County, TX would need to be about $44,015 in Cameron County, TX, or $5,985 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 52.4% of median family income in Lubbock 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 $2,041 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Lubbock 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 $646 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Lubbock 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 $843 per year higher in Cameron County, TX than in Lubbock 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 $1,470 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Lubbock 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 $835 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Lubbock 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 Lubbock 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 $1,015 per year lower in Cameron County, TX than in Lubbock 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:

$843 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:

$2,041 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.

CategoryDifference
Housing-20% lower
Food-16% lower
Transport7% higher
Healthcare-24% lower
Other Costs-19% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-15% lower

In Cameron County, TX, modeled annual costs are $37,959 compared with $43,122 in Lubbock 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 Lubbock County, TX are both metropolitan locations.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Lubbock County, TX vs Cameron County, TX Cost of Living (2026)