Moving to Texas from Wisconsin

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Wisconsin to Texas? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Wisconsin to Texas, you would find that Texas is 1.2% cheaper than Wisconsin. A $75,000 salary in Wisconsin would need to be roughly $75,043 in Texas to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Austin averages 79°F vs 56°F in Madison, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Wisconsin and Texas.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 $75,043

To maintain the same standard of living in Texas

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.8% more

Groceries

pay 2.3% less

Transportation

pay 6.0% more

Housing

pay 14.2% more

Childcare

pay 32.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 1.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Texas compared to Wisconsin.

Is it safe?

Violent crime rateFBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2023

incidents per 100,000 people per year

WI
286
TX
391
Property crime rateFBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2023

incidents per 100,000 people per year

WI
1204
TX
2153

Wisconsin performs better than Texas across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Uninsured rateUS Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of people without health insurance

WI
5.2%
TX
16.0%
Adult obesity rateCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

WI
37.8%
TX
36.8%

Wisconsin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Texas leads in adult obesity rate.

What about housing?

Median home valueUS Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

typical price of a home

WI
$247,400
TX
$260,400
Median rentUS Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

typical monthly gross rent

WI
$1,045
TX
$1,339

Wisconsin performs better than Texas across all what about housing? metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet accessUS Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

WI
89.5%
TX
90.1%
Average commuteUS Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

minutes each way to work

WI
22 min
TX
27 min

Wisconsin generally does better on infrastructure, though Texas leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rateBureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

WI
3.0%
TX
3.9%
GDP per capitaBureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

WI
$59,333
TX
$70,071

Wisconsin generally does better on employment & economy, though Texas leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancyOECD Regional Demography, 2020

average years of life at birth

WI
77.7 yrs
TX
76.5 yrs
Bachelor's degree or higherUS Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of adults with a 4-year college degree

WI
22%
TX
20%

Wisconsin performs better than Texas across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

MadisonRain: 34.5 in/yr (876 mm)
56°/37°F

Avg. annual high / low

AustinRain: 36.2 in/yr (920 mm)
79°/55°F

Avg. annual high / low

MonthsMadisonAustin
Jan–Mar33°/17°F (1°/-8°C)65°/40°F (18°/5°C)
Apr–Jun68°/46°F (20°/8°C)85°/63°F (29°/17°C)
Jul–Sep78°/57°F (25°/14°C)93°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec44°/28°F (7°/-2°C)71°/47°F (22°/8°C)
View all months
MonthMadisonAustin
Jan26°/11°F (-3.1°/-11.6°C)61°/37°F (15.9°/2.9°C)
Feb31°/15°F (-0.5°/-9.4°C)64°/39°F (17.6°/3.8°C)
Mar43°/25°F (6.2°/-4.0°C)71°/45°F (21.6°/7.4°C)
Apr57°/36°F (14.1°/2.1°C)79°/55°F (25.9°/12.8°C)
May68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C)85°/64°F (29.7°/17.7°C)
Jun78°/56°F (25.5°/13.4°C)91°/70°F (32.8°/21.0°C)
Jul82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C)94°/72°F (34.7°/22.3°C)
Aug79°/59°F (26.3°/15.0°C)96°/72°F (35.4°/22.1°C)
Sep72°/50°F (22.1°/10.1°C)90°/67°F (32.3°/19.2°C)
Oct59°/39°F (14.9°/3.8°C)81°/57°F (27.3°/13.7°C)
Nov44°/28°F (6.7°/-2.1°C)71°/47°F (21.4°/8.4°C)
Dec30°/16°F (-1.0°/-8.9°C)62°/38°F (16.5°/3.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Texas than Wisconsin?

Texas and Wisconsin are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.

How much money do I need to move to Texas?

Budget about $18,761 for 3 months in Texas (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit.

Is Texas safe?

Wisconsin performs better than Texas across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Texas compared to Wisconsin?

Wisconsin generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Texas leads in adult obesity rate.

What's the weather like in Texas compared to Wisconsin?

The average high temperature in Austin is 79°F, compared to 56°F in Madison. Austin receives around 36.2 in of rainfall per year, while Madison gets 34.5 in.

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