Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Travis County, TX would need to be about $39,420 in Borden County, TX, or $10,580 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Travis County, TX vs Borden County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Borden County, TX is cheaper than Travis County, TX.
Moving to Borden County, TX is estimated to save $12,119 per year.
Cheaper County
Borden County, TXSave about $12,119 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Travis County, TX is about $39,420 in Borden County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $4,259 per year. Housing saves $9,718 per year.
Housing: $9,718 lower in Borden County, TX
Taxes: $2,690 lower in Borden County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $256 lower in Borden County, TX
Food: $531 lower in Borden County, TX
Transport: $4,259 higher in Borden County, TX
Travis County, TX→Borden County, TX
Equivalent salary in Borden County, TX
$39,420
-21.16% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Travis County, TX: $126,667
Median Income in Borden County, TX: $63,750
Living Index in Travis County, TX 45.23%
Living Index in Borden County, TX 70.85%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Travis County, TX to Borden 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 Travis County, TX to Borden County, TX is estimated to save $12,119 per year. A $50,000 salary in Travis County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $39,420 in Borden County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and other costs.
This is a -21.16% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $9,718 per year lower (-51.39%); Other Costs is $3,182 per year lower (-44.53%).
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 Travis County, TX and Borden County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 45.2% of median family income in Travis County, TX and 70.9% in Borden County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $9,718 per year lower in Borden County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Borden County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $531 per year lower in Borden County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Borden County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $4,259 per year higher in Borden County, TX than in Travis 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 Borden County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $256 per year lower in Borden County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Borden County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,182 per year lower in Borden County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Borden County, TX help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Travis County, TX and Borden County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Borden County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $2,690 per year lower in Borden County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Borden 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 Borden County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Borden County, TX
Annual Increase:
$4,259 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Borden County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Borden County, TX
Annual Savings:
$9,718 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Borden County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -51% lower | |
| Food | -13% lower | |
| Transport | 36% higher | |
| Healthcare | -5% lower | |
| Other Costs | -45% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -28% lower |
In Borden County, TX, modeled annual costs are $45,167 compared with $57,286 in Travis County, TX.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Borden County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Borden County, TX is not a metropolitan location, while Travis County, TX is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
