City Comparison

Alexandria vs Tyler

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

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

Tyler

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$250,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$54,800
Median Income

The Verdict

70.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 70.6%, with Tyler being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to $43,966 in Tyler.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
201
Alexandria
69
Tyler
Groceries
113
Alexandria
96
Tyler
Utilities
97
Alexandria
97
Tyler
Transportation
107
Alexandria
92
Tyler
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
93
Tyler

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Alexandria vs Tyler

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Tyler's 69, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $250,000. The $340,000 difference in home prices means roughly $22,104 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,075/mo in Tyler, a monthly difference of $1,050.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 96 in Tyler. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $456/month in Tyler. Tyler 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 97 in Tyler. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $388 in Tyler. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 93 in Tyler. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $54,800 in Tyler. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $64,471 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 $1,279/month in Tyler. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Tyler, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 132 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tyler 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 Tyler, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Tyler's is 69 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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