Balch Springs, TX vs Live Oak, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Live Oak, TX has a modeled overall cost index 11.4% lower than Balch Springs, TX.

Balch Springs, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,610 / month
Live Oak, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,630 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Balch Springs, TX and Live Oak, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $744/month in Live Oak, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $141,066 in Live Oak, TX

Regional cost estimates: Balch Springs, TX uses Dallas, TX. Live Oak, TX uses San Antonio, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 11.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$744
Savings
Annual Impact
$8.9K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Balch Springs, TX

Population:27K
Cost Index:
92.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$215K

Live Oak, TX

Population:16K
Cost Index:
82.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$227K

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Balch Springs, TX

The Lone Star State

27K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 27K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Live Oak, TX

The Lone Star State

16K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 16K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Balch Springs, TX vs Live Oak, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 13.6%
Balch Springs, TX
$2,153
Live Oak, TX
$1,860
Difference
$293
less
Other
↓ 8.7%
Balch Springs, TX
$1,775
Live Oak, TX
$1,621
Difference
$154
less
Healthcare
↓ 17.3%
Balch Springs, TX
$661
Live Oak, TX
$546
Difference
$115
less
Groceries
↓ 7.5%
Balch Springs, TX
$1,024
Live Oak, TX
$947
Difference
$76.74
less
All Utilities
↓ 12.7%
Balch Springs, TX
$589
Live Oak, TX
$514
Difference
$74.50
less
Transportation
↓ 2.5%
Balch Springs, TX
$1,298
Live Oak, TX
$1,267
Difference
$31.82
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,320
To$1,230
↓ $90.00
1 Bed
From$1,370
To$1,340
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,610
To$1,630
↑ $20.00
3 Bed
From$2,030
To$2,090
↑ $60.00
Balch Springs, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,370–$1,370/mo

Live Oak, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,340–$1,340/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Balch Springs, TX
$6,756
Monthly in Live Oak, TX
$744
Difference

Home Values

Balch Springs
Live Oak
$215K
Median Value
$227K
↓ -6.7%
YoY Change
↓ -2.7%
↑ +22.9%
5-Year Change
↑ +19%

Homes in Live Oak are 6% more expensive than Balch Springs

Calculate payment - Balch SpringsCalculate payment - Live Oak

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Balch Springs, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Live Oak, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Balch Springs, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

Live Oak, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Balch Springs
Live Oak
55 Moderate
Air Quality
52 Moderate
35.2%
Good Air Days
47.5%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
90 days
Heat Days >95°F
105 days
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
90 days
Heat Days >95°F
105 days

Before moving from Balch Springs, TX to Live Oak, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Live Oak, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Balch Springs, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Balch Springs to Live Oak moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Live Oak, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Balch Springs, TX vs Live Oak, TX

How do the cost estimates for Balch Springs, TX and Live Oak, TX compare?

Live Oak, TX has a modeled overall cost index 11.4% lower than Balch Springs, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Balch Springs, TX, the model estimates $141,066 in Live Oak, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Balch Springs, TX and Live Oak, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,610/month in Balch Springs, TX and $1,630/month in Live Oak, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Balch Springs, TX on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $172/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $143/mo

Similar cost to Live Oak, TX

Other cities in a similar price range

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