Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Travis County, TX would need to be about $36,210 in Refugio County, TX, or $13,790 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Travis County, TX vs Refugio County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Refugio County, TX is cheaper than Travis County, TX.
Moving to Refugio County, TX is estimated to save $15,797 per year.
Cheaper County
Refugio County, TXSave about $15,797 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Travis County, TX is about $36,210 in Refugio County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $2,031 per year. Housing saves $10,426 per year.
Housing: $10,426 lower in Refugio County, TX
Taxes: $3,414 lower in Refugio County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $40 lower in Refugio County, TX
Food: $543 lower in Refugio County, TX
Transport: $2,031 higher in Refugio County, TX
Travis County, TX→Refugio County, TX
Equivalent salary in Refugio County, TX
$36,210
-27.58% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Travis County, TX: $126,667
Median Income in Refugio County, TX: $67,316
Living Index in Travis County, TX 45.23%
Living Index in Refugio County, TX 61.63%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Travis County, TX to Refugio 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 Refugio County, TX is estimated to save $15,797 per year. A $50,000 salary in Travis County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $36,210 in Refugio County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -27.58% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,426 per year lower (-55.13%); Taxes is $3,414 per year lower (-35.26%).
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 Refugio 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 61.6% in Refugio County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,426 per year lower in Refugio 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 Refugio County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $543 per year lower in Refugio County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Refugio County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $2,031 per year higher in Refugio 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 Refugio County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $40 per year lower in Refugio County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Refugio County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,405 per year lower in Refugio County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Refugio 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 Refugio County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Refugio County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $3,414 per year lower in Refugio County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Refugio 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 Refugio County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Refugio County, TX
Annual Increase:
$2,031 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Refugio County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Refugio County, TX
Annual Savings:
$10,426 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Refugio County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -55% lower | |
| Food | -13% lower | |
| Transport | 17% higher | |
| Healthcare | -1% lower | |
| Other Costs | -48% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -35% lower |
In Refugio County, TX, modeled annual costs are $41,489 compared with $57,286 in Travis County, TX.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Refugio County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Refugio 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.
