Cost of Living in Abilene, TX
Abilene, TX — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Abilene, TX to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Abilene, TX vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.4 | −9.6% |
| Housing | 73.8 | −26.2% |
| Goods | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 81.2 | −18.8% |
| Other services | 96.2 | −3.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Abilene, TX
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,010 | $40,400/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,020 | $40,800/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,276 | $51,040/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,653 | $66,120/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,987 | $79,480/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Abilene, TX
- Federal income tax$3,141
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,749
- Medicare (1.45%)$643
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$37,807
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Abilene, TX
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Abilene, TX expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Abilene, TX metro area are 90.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 73.8%. It is the #282 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Abilene, TX?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,218 in Abilene, TX (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $44,340.
How much is rent in Abilene, TX?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Abilene, TX are $1,010 for a studio, $1,020 for one bedroom, $1,276 for two bedrooms and $1,653 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Abilene, TX
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $86,200
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $75,410
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $59,990
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $59,510
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $53,480
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $29,120
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $28,700
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,240
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $60,950
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $37,460
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $23,690
Protective Service Occupations
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $53,570
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $34,700
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,180
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $26,310
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,520
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $60,440
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $57,800
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $42,000
- Retail Salesperson — $29,530
- Cashier — $27,130
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $60,300
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $45,620
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $43,790
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $39,360
- Office Clerks, General — $37,410
- Customer Service Representative — $36,830
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $30,690
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Electrician — $47,400
- Construction Laborer — $38,160
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $73,170
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $46,190
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $42,940
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $54,720
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $35,810
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,200