Salado, TX vs Johnson City, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Johnson City, TX has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% lower than Salado, TX.

Salado, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,570 / month
Johnson City, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,760 / 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 Salado, TX and Johnson City, 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: $21.06/month in Johnson City, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,747 in Johnson City, TX

Regional cost estimates: Salado, TX uses Austin, TX. Johnson City, TX uses Austin, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 0.3%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$21.06
Savings
Annual Impact
$253
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.

Salado, TX

Population:2K
Cost Index:
88.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$504K

Johnson City, TX

Population:2K
Cost Index:
88.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$609K

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Salado, TX

The Lone Star State

2K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 2K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Johnson City, TX

The Lone Star State

2K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 2K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Salado, TX vs Johnson City, 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
↓ 0.3%
Salado, TX
$2,472
Johnson City, TX
$2,464
Difference
$8.10
less
Other
↓ 0.3%
Salado, TX
$1,658
Johnson City, TX
$1,652
Difference
$5.43
less
Transportation
↓ 0.3%
Salado, TX
$1,223
Johnson City, TX
$1,219
Difference
$4.01
less
Groceries
↓ 0.2%
Salado, TX
$986
Johnson City, TX
$985
Difference
$1.62
less
Healthcare
↓ 0.2%
Salado, TX
$605
Johnson City, TX
$604
Difference
$0.99
less
All Utilities
↓ 0.2%
Salado, TX
$556
Johnson City, TX
$555
Difference
$0.91
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,240
To$1,400
↑ $160
1 Bed
From$1,340
To$1,490
↑ $150
2 Bed
From$1,570
To$1,760
↑ $190
3 Bed
From$2,010
To$2,240
↑ $230
Salado, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,340–$1,340/mo

Johnson City, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,490–$1,490/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 Salado, TX
$7,479
Monthly in Johnson City, TX
$21.06
Difference

Home Values

Salado
Johnson City
$504K
Median Value
$609K
↓ -1.8%
YoY Change
↓ -3%
↑ +34.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +38.8%

Homes in Johnson City are 21% more expensive than Salado

Calculate payment - SaladoCalculate payment - Johnson City

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

Salado, 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

Johnson City, 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

Salado, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

Johnson City, 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

Salado
Johnson City
52 Moderate
Air Quality
52 Moderate
42.6%
Good Air Days
42.6%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
98 days
Heat Days >95°F
98 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
98 days
Heat Days >95°F
98 days

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Salado, TX vs Johnson City, TX

How do the cost estimates for Salado, TX and Johnson City, TX compare?

Johnson City, TX has a modeled overall cost index 0.3% lower than Salado, 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 Salado, TX, the model estimates $149,747 in Johnson City, 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 Salado, TX and Johnson City, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,570/month in Salado, TX and $1,760/month in Johnson City, 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 Salado, TX on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $56.27/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $26.41/mo

Similar cost to Johnson City, TX

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