Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Travis County, TX would need to be about $35,635 in Val Verde County, TX, or $14,365 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Travis County, TX vs Val Verde County, TX: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Val Verde County, TX is cheaper than Travis County, TX.
Moving to Val Verde County, TX is estimated to save $16,457 per year.
Cheaper County
Val Verde County, TXSave about $16,457 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Travis County, TX is about $35,635 in Val Verde County, TX.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,188 per year. Housing saves $9,778 per year.
Housing: $9,778 lower in Val Verde County, TX
Taxes: $3,544 lower in Val Verde County, TX
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $198 lower in Val Verde County, TX
Food: $831 lower in Val Verde County, TX
Transport: $1,188 higher in Val Verde County, TX
Travis County, TX→Val Verde County, TX
Equivalent salary in Val Verde County, TX
$35,635
-28.73% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Travis County, TX: $126,667
Median Income in Val Verde County, TX: $69,392
Living Index in Travis County, TX 45.23%
Living Index in Val Verde County, TX 58.84%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Travis County, TX to Val Verde 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 Val Verde County, TX is estimated to save $16,457 per year. A $50,000 salary in Travis County, TX would have similar purchasing power to about $35,635 in Val Verde County, TX. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -28.73% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $9,778 per year lower (-51.71%); Taxes is $3,544 per year lower (-36.61%).
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 Val Verde 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 58.8% in Val Verde County, TX. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $9,778 per year lower in Val Verde 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 Val Verde County, TX changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $831 per year lower in Val Verde County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Val Verde County, TX can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,188 per year higher in Val Verde 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 Val Verde County, TX.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $198 per year lower in Val Verde County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Val Verde County, TX changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,293 per year lower in Val Verde County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Val Verde 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 Val Verde County, TX, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Val Verde County, TX, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $3,544 per year lower in Val Verde County, TX than in Travis County, TX. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Val Verde 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 Val Verde County, TX.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Val Verde County, TX
Annual Increase:
$1,188 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Val Verde County, TX.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Val Verde County, TX
Annual Savings:
$9,778 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Val Verde County, TX.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -52% lower | |
| Food | -20% lower | |
| Transport | 10% higher | |
| Healthcare | -4% lower | |
| Other Costs | -46% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -37% lower |
In Val Verde County, TX, modeled annual costs are $40,829 compared with $57,286 in Travis County, TX.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Val Verde County, TX. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Val Verde 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.
