Harlingen, TX vs Baytown, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Baytown, TX has a modeled overall cost index 0.2% lower than Harlingen, TX.

Harlingen, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,130 / month
Baytown, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,435 / 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 Harlingen, TX and Baytown, 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: $54.81/month in Baytown, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,658 in Baytown, TX

Regional cost estimates: Harlingen, TX uses Corpus Christi, TX. Baytown, TX uses Houston, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 0.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$54.81
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$658
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.

Harlingen, TX

Population:72K
Cost Index:
89.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$195K

Baytown, TX

Population:84K
Cost Index:
89.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$211K

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Harlingen, TX

The Lone Star State

72K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 72K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Baytown, TX

The Lone Star State

84K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 84K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Harlingen, TX vs Baytown, 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
↑ 6.3%
Harlingen, TX
$1,413
Baytown, TX
$1,502
Difference
$88.40
more
Other
↓ 4.4%
Harlingen, TX
$1,916
Baytown, TX
$1,832
Difference
$84.59
less
All Utilities
↑ 9.0%
Harlingen, TX
$545
Baytown, TX
$594
Difference
$49.01
more
Groceries
↓ 2.8%
Harlingen, TX
$1,008
Baytown, TX
$980
Difference
$27.84
less
Healthcare
↑ 3.5%
Harlingen, TX
$584
Baytown, TX
$604
Difference
$20.61
more
Housing
↑ 0.5%
Harlingen, TX
$2,034
Baytown, TX
$2,043
Difference
$9.21
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$835
To$1,165
↑ $330
1 Bed
From$930
To$1,205
↑ $275
2 Bed
From$1,130
To$1,435
↑ $305
3 Bed
From$1,525
To$1,930
↑ $405
Harlingen, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$980/mo

Baytown, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,120–$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 Harlingen, TX
$7,555
Monthly in Baytown, TX
$54.81
Difference

Home Values

Harlingen
Baytown
$195K
Median Value
$211K
↓ -2%
YoY Change
↓ -2%
↑ +30.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +19.2%
$170K - $220K
Price Range
$169K - $252K

Homes in Baytown are 8% more expensive than Harlingen

Calculate payment - HarlingenCalculate payment - Baytown

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

Harlingen, 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

Baytown, 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

Harlingen, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

Baytown, 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

Harlingen
Baytown
51 Moderate
Air Quality
61 Moderate
48.6%
Good Air Days
13.7%
97 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌀🌡
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
52 days
Heat Days >95°F
64 days
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
52 days
Heat Days >95°F
64 days

Before moving from Harlingen, TX to Baytown, 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 Baytown, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Harlingen, 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 Harlingen to Baytown moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Harlingen, TX vs Baytown, TX

How do the cost estimates for Harlingen, TX and Baytown, TX compare?

Baytown, TX has a modeled overall cost index 0.2% lower than Harlingen, 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 Harlingen, TX, the model estimates $150,658 in Baytown, 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 Harlingen, TX and Baytown, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,130/month in Harlingen, TX and $1,435/month in Baytown, 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 Harlingen, TX on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $14.10/mo

Similar cost to Baytown, TX

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