Does moving to Texas lie in your near future? If yes, then you’ve come to the right place. Whether you plan to move to Texas for a short stint or to make it your forever home, our complete moving guide will teach you everything you need to know to ensure a smooth move. We get into moving costs, working in Texas, benefits of living in Texas and more. Read on!
Before we go any further, let’s talk money! The first thing that should come to mind: ‘How much money do I need to move to Texas?‘ On average, around $2,500 to move to Texas from California or New York.
What plays into your moving costs? While there are a number of factors which can inflate or deflate your expenses, typically two rule the day: The distance and volume of your move.
Sirelo Tip! Having trouble estimating the size of your move? Try out our handy moving space calculator! In just a few clicks you will arrive at your approximate moving volume. Score!
To give you a better idea of what you can expect, below you can find a list of estimates for a full-service move to Houston from various cities across the United States:
| Departure | 1-bedroom | 2-bedrooms | 3-bedrooms |
| New York City, NY | $2,966 – $4,063 | $4,063 – $5,155 | $6,130 – $8,195 |
| Seattle, WA | $3,210 – $4,423 | $4,423 – $5,621 | $6,686 – $8,944 |
| Chicago, IL | $2,471 – $3,326 | $3,326 – $4,192 | $4,963 – $6,602 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,822 – $3,847 | $3,847 – $4,872 | $5,782 – $7,716 |
| Detroit, MI | $2,659 – $3,606 | $3,606 – $4,557 | $5,402 – $7,199 |
Please keep in mind that the rates shown above are just estimates and will vary depending on your actual point of departure and service rates of the company.
By now we are sure you have realized that determining your costs of moving to Texas is not an exact science. In truth, your move is particular to you, and so you will never know your costs until you receive a quote from a moving company.
At Sirelo, we are firm advocates of shopping around for the best price. However, who has the time to gather so many moving quotes? To make this easy, by completing the form below you will receive up to five no-strings-attached moving quotes from reliable, trustworthy movers. Score!
Want to know how to move to Texas? Below we list the most crucial points to keep in mind. While far from exhaustive, these should serve as your jumping off point as your move to Texas appears on the horizon!
Want a more detailed general checklist? Then check out our moving checklist as you prepare to move to Texas!
If a brief checklist is not enough to know exactly how to move to Texas, we have elaborated on key areas to focus on. By following the broad strokes you can quickly narrow down to the smallest of details in your moving situation. Below we dive into healthcare, taxes, working in Texas, and more!
While not the most glamorous part of moving to Texas, it is definitely one to have as a first order of business after moving. Why? Because it seals the deal!
More seriously, by becoming a Texas resident you acquire the right to vote and have a form of ID proving your new residence. A big perk, if you or your child plans on attending a university in Texas, being a Texas resident allows you to access discounted in-state tuition rates.
Texans have a reputation for having a good time, and the best of times are not always the healthiest of times. In fact, Texas ranks only as the 34th healthiest state, with obesity and excessive drinking being significant causes of resident health troubles.
To add insult to injury, healthcare in Texas is ranked only 42nd! The primary reason for the lackluster results is the relative difficulty of accessing affordable healthcare.
With many uninsured adults with high rates of preventable conditions, those that can afford health insurance benefit from the standard issue hospital care available in-state.
In the past several years the Texas job market has exploded. Part of the boom is the number of Fortune 50 companies moving to Texas, in addition to those already there. With the low unemployment rate and average income of $85,000. Why are people moving to Texas? Now you know why!
Where will you find the most opportunities? A few Texas industries stand out for career opportunities, which we highlight in our short-list below:
Despite its recent massive population growth, Texas remains one of the most affordable states to live in. Compared to the national average, living in Texas is approximately 9% cheaper. So what is the cost of living in Texas? The average cost of living in Texas comes in around $30,000 per year. Not bad!
To illustrate, we’ve broken down the costs into the most common four categories and included typical prices for Texas living.
In a climate of housing inflation, it is refreshing news to hear that Texas has one of the most affordable housing markets in the country. With an average rent of just $831, Texas sits almost $600 cheaper than the national average.
However, bear in mind that Texas is huge (the size of Germany!), which means the situation will not be the same everywhere you go. In fact, the average rent in Austin is almost $1,700, twice the state average!
For more information on housing in Texas, we include common rent prices below:
| City | Average Rent |
| Houston | $1,118 |
| Dallas | $1,250 |
| Austin | $1,439 |
| San Antonio | $1,049 |
| Fort Worth | $1,128 |
| Pasadena | $887 |
Please keep in mind that the prices reflected above are just estimates. The rent can vary depending on location and characteristics of the property.
If you’re interested on purchasing a property instead, you can expect the following prices for a median home across various cities in Texas:
| City | Median Home Value |
| Houston | $299,900 |
| Dallas | $376,900 |
| Austin | $321,600 |
| El Paso | $174,900 |
When it comes to taxes, good news! Texas is a quite a tax-friendly state, mainly because it’s one of the seven states that does not collect personal income tax. Among the taxes you will be expected to pay in Texas you can find:
For further information regarding taxes, we recommend that you check out the information on the Texas Government website.
If you’re relocating to Texas without a car, it’s important to be aware of the average prices for public transport in-state. To give you a rough idea of the costs, below you can find the prices for public transport in Dallas:
If you’re planning on bringing your vehicle with you, keep mind that the average shipping a car to Texas ranges between $500 and $1,500. You can expect gas prices in Texas to be around $3.86 per gallon.
How much is it going to cost to master all those Texas barbecue recipes? Understanding the common costs at the grocery store should factor big into your move planning. To give you a brief overview, we have listed several common grocery store prices below:
| Grocery Item | Average Cost |
| 1 gallon of milk | $2.78 |
| 1 lb. of white rice | $1.59 |
| A carton of 12 large eggs | $2.05 |
| 1 lb. of local cheese | $3.75 |
| 1 lb. of chicken fillet | $4.19 |
| 1 lb. of round beef | $4.55 |
| 1 lb. of potatoes | $0.93 |
| 1 lb. of apples | $1.65 |
| A bottle of wine | $12 |
For those special treat yourself moments, you can expect to pay between $65 to $50 for a mid-range dinner for two at a local restaurant in town.
With all the planning that goes into moving to Texas, remember to look ahead to what living in Texas will actually be like! Texas is an incredibly diverse state, whether you settle on the Mexico border or find yourself holed away in Hill Country. To give you a brief insight into what to expect after your move to Texas, we give the highlights of some highlight Texas cities:
The most populous Texas city (and fourth-most in the US), Houston is the economic capital of the state. Big in energy, aeronautics, and biomedical research, its industry draws top talent from around the country. In addition, Houston has one of the largest LGBT communities of any US city, with a long tradition of community ties.
The liberal capital of largely conservative Texas, Austin has recently received a massive boom of new residents and start-up businesses. How many Californians are moving to Texas? It’s a lot, and they’re all in Austin! Being such a regional cultural center, the Austin motto should be: If it’s hip, it’s in Austin!
Considered one of the most affordable cities in Texas, residents enjoy an accessible housing market and high-quality education. The downside? Road rage and sweltering summers tend to be common par for the course.
A medium-sized coastal city, Corpus Christi is known for its laid-back pace and a track record of surviving Gulf hurricanes. The beachside atmosphere comes in sharp contrast to Texas’s other desert and plains regions, another testament to the state’s diversity.
You are unlikely to be bored after moving to the Lone Star State. With a passion for entertainment, Texans busy themselves with national parks, space centers, amusement parks and a slew of great restaurants. How much does it all cost? Check out the table below:
| Activity | Average Price |
| General admission ticket to Six Flags | $79.99 |
| Two movie tickets | $23 |
| Two theater tickets | $161 |
| Ticket to Houston’s Space Center | $24 – $30 |
| Monthly gym membership | $44 |
| Ticket to Houston’s Museum of Natural Science | $30 |
| A beer at a local bar | $5.67 |
We hope that by now you feel fully prepared to strap on your cowboy boots and move to Texas. To master your moving costs, the first step should always be requesting free quotes! Need further assistance? Then check out the useful articles linked below for further reading. Good luck!
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