Carlsbad, NM vs Lake Jackson, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lake Jackson, TX has a modeled overall cost index 7.0% higher than Carlsbad, NM.

Carlsbad, NM · modeled 2BR rent
$1,230 / month
Lake Jackson, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,410 / 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 Carlsbad, NM and Lake Jackson, 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 extra cost: $480/month in Lake Jackson, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $155,759 in Lake Jackson, TX

Regional cost estimates: Carlsbad, NM uses El Paso, TX. Lake Jackson, TX uses Houston, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 7.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$480
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$5.8K
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.

Carlsbad, NM

Population:31K
Cost Index:
80.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$233K

Lake Jackson, TX

Population:28K
Cost Index:
86.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$264K

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Carlsbad, NM

The Land of Enchantment

31K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in New Mexico, this city has a population of 31K residents.

Lake Jackson, TX

The Lone Star State

28K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 28K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Carlsbad, NM vs Lake Jackson, 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.

Transportation
↑ 13.7%
Carlsbad, NM
$1,387
Lake Jackson, TX
$1,578
Difference
$191
more
Housing
↑ 5.4%
Carlsbad, NM
$2,036
Lake Jackson, TX
$2,147
Difference
$110
more
Other
↑ 5.1%
Carlsbad, NM
$1,831
Lake Jackson, TX
$1,925
Difference
$93.61
more
All Utilities
↑ 12.2%
Carlsbad, NM
$567
Lake Jackson, TX
$636
Difference
$69.09
more
Healthcare
↑ 10.6%
Carlsbad, NM
$585
Lake Jackson, TX
$647
Difference
$61.94
more
Groceries
↓ 4.2%
Carlsbad, NM
$1,094
Lake Jackson, TX
$1,049
Difference
$45.70
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,070
To$1,120
↑ $50.00
1 Bed
From$1,120
To$1,290
↑ $170
2 Bed
From$1,230
To$1,410
↑ $180
3 Bed
From$1,680
To$1,910
↑ $230
Carlsbad, NMZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,120–$1,120/mo

Lake Jackson, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/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 Carlsbad, NM
$7,980
Monthly in Lake Jackson, TX
$480
Difference

Home Values

Carlsbad
Lake Jackson
$233K
Median Value
$264K
↓ -1.3%
YoY Change
↑ +0.2%
↓ -5.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +19.2%

Homes in Lake Jackson are 13% more expensive than Carlsbad

Calculate payment - CarlsbadCalculate payment - Lake Jackson

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $7.1K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$589
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.7%
Rate difference

Carlsbad, NM

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
New Mexico State Tax
Effective: 4.7%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,826/month
$105.9K

Lake Jackson, 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

Carlsbad, NM Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.6%
Property Tax:0.8%

Lake Jackson, 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

Carlsbad
Lake Jackson
67 Moderate
Air Quality
61 Moderate
22.1%
Good Air Days
13.7%
95 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡☀
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
97 days
Heat Days >95°F
64 days
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
97 days
Heat Days >95°F
64 days

Before moving from Carlsbad, NM to Lake Jackson, 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 Lake Jackson, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Carlsbad, NM. 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 Carlsbad to Lake Jackson moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Carlsbad, NM vs Lake Jackson, TX

How do the cost estimates for Carlsbad, NM and Lake Jackson, TX compare?

Lake Jackson, TX has a modeled overall cost index 7.0% higher than Carlsbad, NM. 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 Carlsbad, NM, the model estimates $155,759 in Lake Jackson, 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 Carlsbad, NM and Lake Jackson, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,230/month in Carlsbad, NM and $1,410/month in Lake Jackson, 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between New Mexico and Texas on TaxTakeHome.com

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