Travis County, TX vs Sabine County, TX: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Sabine County, TX is cheaper than Travis County, TX.

Moving to Sabine County, TX is estimated to save $15,649 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Sabine County, TXSave about $15,649 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Travis County, TX is about $36,340 in Sabine County, TX.

Biggest drivers

Transport increases by $2,083 per year. Housing saves $10,426 per year.

Housing: $10,426 lower in Sabine County, TX

Taxes: $3,385 lower in Sabine County, TX

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $321 lower in Sabine County, TX

Food: $277 lower in Sabine County, TX

Transport: $2,083 higher in Sabine County, TX

Travis County, TXSabine County, TX
Equivalent salary in Sabine County, TX
$36,340
-27.32% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Travis County, TX: $126,667
Median Income in Sabine County, TX: $68,998
Living Index in Travis County, TX 45.23%
Living Index in Sabine County, TX 60.35%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Travis County, TX to Sabine 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 Sabine County, TX is estimated to save $15,649 per year. A $50,000 salary in Travis County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $36,340 in Sabine County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -27.32% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,426 per year lower (-55.13%); Taxes is $3,385 per year lower (-34.97%).

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 Sabine County, TX, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Travis County, TX would need to be about $36,340 in Sabine County, TX, or $13,660 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 45.2% of median family income in Travis County, TX and 60.3% in Sabine 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 Sabine 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 Sabine County, TX changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $277 per year lower in Sabine County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Sabine County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $2,083 per year higher in Sabine 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 Sabine County, TX.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $321 per year lower in Sabine County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Sabine County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $3,323 per year lower in Sabine County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Sabine 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 Sabine County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Sabine County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $3,385 per year lower in Sabine County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Sabine 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 Sabine County, TX.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Sabine County, TX
Annual Increase:

$2,083 per year

TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Sabine County, TX.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Sabine County, TX
Annual Savings:

$10,426 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Sabine County, TX.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-55% lower
Food-7% lower
Transport18% higher
Healthcare-6% lower
Other Costs-47% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-35% lower

In Sabine County, TX, modeled annual costs are $41,637 compared with $57,286 in Travis County, TX.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Sabine County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Sabine County, TX is not a metropolitan location, while Travis County, TX is a metropolitan location.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Travis County, TX vs Sabine County, TX Cost of Living (2026)