Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Montgomery County, TX would need to be about $38,660 in Hidalgo County, TX, or $11,340 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Montgomery County, TX vs Hidalgo County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Hidalgo County, TX is cheaper than Montgomery County, TX.
Moving to Hidalgo County, TX is estimated to save $11,981 per year.
Cheaper County
Hidalgo County, TXSave about $11,981 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Montgomery County, TX is about $38,660 in Hidalgo County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $20 per year. Housing saves $6,108 per year.
Housing: $6,108 lower in Hidalgo County, TX
Taxes: $2,356 lower in Hidalgo County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $824 lower in Hidalgo County, TX
Food: $623 lower in Hidalgo County, TX
Transport: $20 higher in Hidalgo County, TX
Montgomery County, TX→Hidalgo County, TX
Equivalent salary in Hidalgo County, TX
$38,660
-22.68% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Montgomery County, TX: $114,809
Median Income in Hidalgo County, TX: $57,989
Living Index in Montgomery County, TX 46.01%
Living Index in Hidalgo County, TX 70.42%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Montgomery County, TX to Hidalgo 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 Montgomery County, TX to Hidalgo County, TX is estimated to save $11,981 per year. A $50,000 salary in Montgomery County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $38,660 in Hidalgo County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -22.68% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $6,108 per year lower (-39.09%); Taxes is $2,356 per year lower (-27.73%).
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 Montgomery County, TX and Hidalgo County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 46.0% of median family income in Montgomery County, TX and 70.4% in Hidalgo County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $6,108 per year lower in Hidalgo County, TX than in Montgomery County, TX. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Hidalgo County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $623 per year lower in Hidalgo County, TX than in Montgomery County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Hidalgo County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $20 per year higher in Hidalgo County, TX than in Montgomery 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 Hidalgo County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $824 per year lower in Hidalgo County, TX than in Montgomery County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Hidalgo County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,089 per year lower in Hidalgo County, TX than in Montgomery County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Hidalgo County, TX help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Montgomery County, TX and Hidalgo County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Hidalgo County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $2,356 per year lower in Hidalgo County, TX than in Montgomery County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Hidalgo 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 Hidalgo County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Hidalgo County, TX
Annual Increase:
$20 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Hidalgo County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Hidalgo County, TX
Annual Savings:
$6,108 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Hidalgo County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -39% lower | |
| Food | -16% lower | |
| Transport | 0% higher | |
| Healthcare | -15% lower | |
| Other Costs | -34% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -28% lower |
In Hidalgo County, TX, modeled annual costs are $40,837 compared with $52,818 in Montgomery County, TX.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Hidalgo County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Hidalgo County, TX and Montgomery County, TX are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
