Oro Valley, AZ vs Friendswood, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Friendswood, TX has a modeled overall cost index 5.2% lower than Oro Valley, AZ.

Oro Valley, AZ · modeled 2BR rent
$2,090 / month
Friendswood, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,980 / 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 Oro Valley, AZ and Friendswood, 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: $349/month in Friendswood, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,812 in Friendswood, TX

Regional cost estimates: Oro Valley, AZ uses Tucson, AZ. Friendswood, TX uses Houston, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 5.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$349
Savings
Annual Impact
$4.2K
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.

Oro Valley, AZ

Population:48K
Cost Index:
92.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$491K

Friendswood, TX

Population:41K
Cost Index:
88.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$387K

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Oro Valley, AZ

The Grand Canyon State

48K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Arizona, this city has a population of 48K residents.

Friendswood, TX

The Lone Star State

41K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 41K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Oro Valley, AZ vs Friendswood, 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
↓ 7.7%
Oro Valley, AZ
$2,090
Friendswood, TX
$1,929
Difference
$162
less
Other
↓ 8.4%
Oro Valley, AZ
$1,887
Friendswood, TX
$1,729
Difference
$158
less
Groceries
↓ 13.1%
Oro Valley, AZ
$1,074
Friendswood, TX
$933
Difference
$141
less
Transportation
↑ 5.4%
Oro Valley, AZ
$1,346
Friendswood, TX
$1,418
Difference
$72.11
more
All Utilities
↑ 11.5%
Oro Valley, AZ
$508
Friendswood, TX
$566
Difference
$58.30
more
Healthcare
↓ 3.2%
Oro Valley, AZ
$595
Friendswood, TX
$576
Difference
$19.29
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,440
To$1,610
↑ $170
1 Bed
From$1,610
To$1,660
↑ $50.00
2 Bed
From$2,090
To$1,980
↓ $110
3 Bed
From$2,910
To$2,660
↓ $250
Oro Valley, AZZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,610–$1,610/mo

Friendswood, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,660–$1,660/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 Oro Valley, AZ
$7,151
Monthly in Friendswood, TX
$349
Difference

Home Values

Oro Valley
Friendswood
$491K
Median Value
$387K
↓ -1.5%
YoY Change
↓ -1%
↑ +31.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +27.7%

Homes in Friendswood are 21% less expensive than Oro Valley

Calculate payment - Oro ValleyCalculate payment - Friendswood

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $5.2K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$436
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.5%
Rate difference

Oro Valley, AZ

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Arizona State Tax
Effective: 3.5%
$5.2K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.2%
$42.2K
Take-Home Pay
$8,979/month
$107.8K

Friendswood, 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

Oro Valley, AZ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.5%
Property Tax:0.6%

Friendswood, 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

Oro Valley
Friendswood
56 Moderate
Air Quality
61 Moderate
30.9%
Good Air Days
13.7%
99 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🔥🌊🌡
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
147 days
Heat Days >95°F
64 days
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
147 days
Heat Days >95°F
64 days

Before moving from Oro Valley, AZ to Friendswood, 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 Friendswood, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Oro Valley, AZ. 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 Oro Valley to Friendswood moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Oro Valley, AZ vs Friendswood, TX

How do the cost estimates for Oro Valley, AZ and Friendswood, TX compare?

Friendswood, TX has a modeled overall cost index 5.2% lower than Oro Valley, AZ. 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 Oro Valley, AZ, the model estimates $145,812 in Friendswood, 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 Oro Valley, AZ and Friendswood, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,090/month in Oro Valley, AZ and $1,980/month in Friendswood, 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 Arizona and Texas on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Oro Valley, AZ on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $310/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $282/mo
3.Pittsburgh, PA
Save $108/mo
4.San Antonio, TX
Save $27.26/mo

Similar cost to Friendswood, TX

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