Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would need to be about $33,265 in Collin County, TX, or $16,735 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
San Mateo County, CA vs Collin County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Collin County, TX is cheaper than San Mateo County, CA.
Moving to Collin County, TX is estimated to save $31,364 per year.
Cheaper County
Collin County, TXSave about $31,364 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in San Mateo County, CA is about $33,265 in Collin County, TX.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Collin County, TX. Taxes saves $13,963 per year.
Housing: $9,142 lower in Collin County, TX
Taxes: $13,963 lower in Collin County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $2,129 lower in Collin County, TX
Food: $1,027 lower in Collin County, TX
Transport: $1,945 lower in Collin County, TX
San Mateo County, CA→Collin County, TX
Equivalent salary in Collin County, TX
$33,265
-33.47% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in San Mateo County, CA: $184,583
Median Income in Collin County, TX: $140,955
Living Index in San Mateo County, CA 50.77%
Living Index in Collin County, TX 44.24%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from San Mateo County, CA to Collin 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 San Mateo County, CA to Collin County, TX is estimated to save $31,364 per year. A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would have similar purchasing power to about $33,265 in Collin County, TX. The largest savings come from taxes and housing.
This is a -33.47% decrease in modeled annual costs. Taxes is $13,963 per year lower (-55.73%); Housing is $9,142 per year lower (-30.09%).
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 San Mateo County, CA and Collin County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 50.8% of median family income in San Mateo County, CA and 44.2% in Collin County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $9,142 per year lower in Collin County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Collin County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,027 per year lower in Collin County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Collin County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,945 per year lower in Collin County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Collin County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $2,129 per year lower in Collin County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Collin County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,158 per year lower in Collin County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Collin County, TX help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in San Mateo County, CA and Collin County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Collin County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $13,963 per year lower in Collin County, TX than in San Mateo County, CA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Collin 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 Collin County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Collin County, TX
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Collin County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Collin County, TX
Annual Savings:
$13,963 per year
TAXES has the largest annual savings when moving to Collin County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -30% lower | |
| Food | -19% lower | |
| Transport | -14% lower | |
| Healthcare | -28% lower | |
| Other Costs | -28% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -56% lower |
In Collin County, TX, modeled annual costs are $62,354 compared with $93,718 in San Mateo County, CA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Collin County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Collin County, TX and San Mateo County, CA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
