Temple, TX vs Harlingen, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Harlingen, TX has a modeled overall cost index 5.7% lower than Temple, TX.

Temple, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,370 / month
Harlingen, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,130 / 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 Temple, TX and Harlingen, 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

Current salary in Temple, TX

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $503/month in Harlingen, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,962 in Harlingen, TX

Regional cost estimates: Temple, TX uses Austin, TX. Harlingen, TX uses Corpus Christi, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 5.7%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$503

Savings

Annual Impact

$6.0K

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.

Temple, TX

Population:93K

Cost Index:

95.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$187K

Harlingen, TX

Population:72K

Cost Index:

89.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$195K

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Temple, TX

The Lone Star State

93K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 93K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

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!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Temple, TX vs Harlingen, 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.

Category	Temple, TX	Harlingen, TX	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,498/mo	$1,897/mo	↓ $601less	24.1%
Other	$1,675/mo	$1,788/mo	↑ $112more	6.7%
Transportation	$1,236/mo	$1,318/mo	↑ $82.89more	6.7%
Healthcare	$589/mo	$545/mo	↓ $44.63less	7.6%
All Utilities	$542/mo	$509/mo	↓ $32.98less	6.1%
Groceries	$960/mo	$940/mo	↓ $19.98less	2.1%

Housing

↓ 24.1%

Temple, TX

$2,498

Harlingen, TX

$1,897

Difference

$601

less

Other

↑ 6.7%

Temple, TX

$1,675

Harlingen, TX

$1,788

Difference

$112

Transportation

↑ 6.7%

Temple, TX

$1,236

Harlingen, TX

$1,318

Difference

$82.89

Healthcare

↓ 7.6%

Temple, TX

$589

Harlingen, TX

$545

Difference

$44.63

less

All Utilities

↓ 6.1%

Temple, TX

$542

Harlingen, TX

$509

Difference

$32.98

less

Groceries

↓ 2.1%

Temple, TX

$960

Harlingen, TX

$940

Difference

$19.98

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,090

To$835

↓ $255

1 Bed

From$1,100

To$930

↓ $170

2 Bed

From$1,370

To$1,130

↓ $240

3 Bed

From$1,900

To$1,525

↓ $375

Temple, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $840–$1,200/mo

Harlingen, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $880–$980/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 Temple, TX

$6,997

Monthly in Harlingen, TX

$503

Difference

Home Values

Temple

Harlingen

$187K

Median Value

$195K

↓ -5%

YoY Change

↓ -2%

↑ +25.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +30.6%

$185K - $275K

Price Range

$170K - $220K

Homes in Harlingen are 4% more expensive than Temple

Calculate payment - Temple Calculate payment - Harlingen

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

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Temple, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Harlingen, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

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

Temple, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

Harlingen, 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

Temple

Harlingen

52 Moderate

Air Quality

51 Moderate

42.6%

Good Air Days

48.6%

98 High

Climate Risk

97 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌀🌡

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

98 days

Heat Days >95°F

52 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

98 days

Heat Days >95°F

52 days

Before moving from Temple, TX to Harlingen, TX

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Harlingen, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Temple, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Temple to Harlingen moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Temple, TX vs Harlingen, TX

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

Harlingen, TX has a modeled overall cost index 5.7% lower than Temple, 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 Temple, TX, the model estimates $143,962 in Harlingen, 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 Temple, TX and Harlingen, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,370/month in Temple, TX and $1,130/month in Harlingen, 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.