City Comparison

Alexandria vs Denton

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Denton

Texas
108
Above Average
$385,000
Median Home
$1,425/mo
Median Rent
$73,700
Median Income

The Verdict

34.3%

Denton is 34.3% less expensive than Alexandria overall. A household earning $75,000 in Alexandria would need approximately $55,862 in Denton to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
126
Denton
Groceries
113
Alexandria
98
Denton
Utilities
97
Alexandria
90
Denton
Transportation
107
Alexandria
87
Denton
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
81
Denton

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $55,862 in Denton.

Conversely, $75,000 in Denton equals $100,694 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Denton

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Denton's 126, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $385,000. The $205,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,320 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,425/mo in Denton, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 98 in Denton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $466/month in Denton. Denton offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 90 in Denton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $360 in Denton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 81 in Denton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $73,700 in Denton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $68,241 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,720/month in Denton. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Denton, median rent of $1,425/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 75 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Denton is 34.3% more affordable overall with an index of 108 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $55,862 in Denton, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Denton's is 126 with median homes at $385,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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