City Comparison

Alexandria vs Odessa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

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

Odessa

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$223,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$73,500
Median Income

The Verdict

70.6%

Living in Odessa costs 70.6% less than Alexandria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Alexandria, you would need $43,966 in Odessa.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
201
Alexandria
72
Odessa
Groceries
113
Alexandria
96
Odessa
Utilities
97
Alexandria
100
Odessa
Transportation
107
Alexandria
93
Odessa
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
96
Odessa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $43,966 in Odessa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Odessa equals $127,941 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Odessa

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Odessa's 72, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $223,000. The $367,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,150/mo in Odessa, a monthly difference of $975.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 96 in Odessa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $456/month in Odessa. Odessa 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 100 in Odessa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $400 in Odessa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 96 in Odessa. 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 $73,500 in Odessa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $86,471 respectively. Odessa 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 $1,715/month in Odessa. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 129 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Odessa is 70.6% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $43,966 in Odessa, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Odessa's is 72 with median homes at $223,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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