The cost of living in Texas continued to remain low relative to the rest of the country in 2021, according to data that the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis released last week. Overall prices in Texas were 1.5 percent below the national average — largely due to utility prices, which were 14.1 percent lower. Although the Lone Star State's cost of living is lower than the national average, 32 states — including all four that border Texas — were less expensive during 2021. The most affordable state was Mississippi, with a cost of living that was 13.4 percent below the national average. The Houston metro area had a cost of living that was just 0.3 percent lower than the national average in 2021. San Antonio and El Paso both had lower costs of living relative to the U.S. average. Dallas had the highest cost of living among the five major metros, with prices 3.9 percent higher. Austin broke even with the national average. What drove the Houston area's overall prices up are housing costs, which are 5.8 percent higher than the U.S. average. Click the link in our bio to read more.