Companies aren’t the only ones making the move to Texas — people are too, and it’s easy to see why. Strong healthcare infrastructure, below-average living costs and accessible home prices make the Lone Star State desirable to many, especially retirees.
As part of its annual “Best Places to Live” rankings, U.S. News & World Report analyzed 859 cities across the country. Its affordability category gathered data on median gross rent and annual housing costs for mortgage-paying homeowners to determine the cities with the lowest cost of living.
Did your city make the list among the nation’s 25 cheapest cities? Here’s what the numbers say.
People are also reading: 4 Texas cities rank among US News’ 2025 best places to live for quality of life
8 Texas cities among 25 cheapest US cities, 2025-2026
No. 5 (overall): Mission
Average commute: 19 minutes
Median home value: $165,761
Median monthly rent: $699
Median household income: $60,127
No. 7 (overall): Eagle Pass
Average commute: 15 minutes
Median home value: $161,889
Median monthly rent: $592
Median household income: $52,445
No. 11 (overall): Laredo
Average commute: 19 minutes
Median home value: $174,659
Median monthly rent: $795
Median household income: $63,802
No. 12 (overall): League City
Average commute: 28 minutes
Median home value: $327,511
Median monthly rent: $1,231
Median household income: $120,670
No. 24 (overall): Katy
Average commute: 29 minutes
Median home value: $343,597
Median monthly rent: $1,196
Median household income: $124,253
No. 15 (overall): Wichita Falls
Average commute: 13 minutes
Median home value: $148,320
Median monthly rent: $749
Median household income: $58,754
No. 21 (overall): Harlingen
Average commute: 15 minutes
Median home value: $136,388
Median monthly rent: $719
Median household income: $52,137
No. 23 (overall): McAllen
Average commute: 18 minutes
Median home value: $169,631
Median monthly rent: $783
Median household income: $59,255
LIST: Top 10 cheapest places to live, 2025-2026
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: US News ranks 8 Texas cities among the 25 cheapest to live in