City Comparison

Alexandria vs Midland

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

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

Midland

Texas
92
Below Average
$269,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$89,600
Median Income

The Verdict

57.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 57.6%, with Midland being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to $47,586 in Midland.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
201
Alexandria
84
Midland
Groceries
113
Alexandria
96
Midland
Utilities
97
Alexandria
99
Midland
Transportation
107
Alexandria
91
Midland
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
110
Midland

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $47,586 in Midland.

Conversely, $75,000 in Midland equals $118,207 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Midland

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Midland's 84, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $269,000. The $321,000 difference in home prices means roughly $20,868 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,450/mo in Midland, a monthly difference of $675.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 96 in Midland. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $456/month in Midland. Midland offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $972/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 99 in Midland. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $396 in Midland. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 110 in Midland. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $89,600 in Midland. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $97,391 respectively. Midland residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $2,091/month in Midland. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Midland, median rent of $1,450/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 117 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Midland is 57.6% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $47,586 in Midland, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Midland's is 84 with median homes at $269,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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