Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Travis County, TX would need to be about $36,740 in Polk County, TX, or $13,260 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Travis County, TX vs Polk County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Polk County, TX is cheaper than Travis County, TX.
Moving to Polk County, TX is estimated to save $15,192 per year.
Cheaper County
Polk County, TXSave about $15,192 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Travis County, TX is about $36,740 in Polk County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,928 per year. Housing saves $9,658 per year.
Housing: $9,658 lower in Polk County, TX
Taxes: $3,295 lower in Polk County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $321 lower in Polk County, TX
Food: $646 lower in Polk County, TX
Transport: $1,928 higher in Polk County, TX
Travis County, TX→Polk County, TX
Equivalent salary in Polk County, TX
$36,740
-26.52% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Travis County, TX: $126,667
Median Income in Polk County, TX: $68,025
Living Index in Travis County, TX 45.23%
Living Index in Polk County, TX 61.88%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Travis County, TX to Polk 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 Polk County, TX is estimated to save $15,192 per year. A $50,000 salary in Travis County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $36,740 in Polk County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -26.52% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $9,658 per year lower (-51.07%); Taxes is $3,295 per year lower (-34.04%).
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 Polk 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 61.9% in Polk County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $9,658 per year lower in Polk 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 Polk County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $646 per year lower in Polk County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Polk County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,928 per year higher in Polk 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 Polk County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $321 per year lower in Polk County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Polk County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,199 per year lower in Polk County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Polk 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 Polk County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Polk County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $3,295 per year lower in Polk County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Polk 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 Polk County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Polk County, TX
Annual Increase:
$1,928 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Polk County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Polk County, TX
Annual Savings:
$9,658 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Polk County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -51% lower | |
| Food | -16% lower | |
| Transport | 16% higher | |
| Healthcare | -6% lower | |
| Other Costs | -45% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -34% lower |
In Polk County, TX, modeled annual costs are $42,094 compared with $57,286 in Travis County, TX.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Polk County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Polk 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.
