Arlington vs Tyler
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Arlington
Tyler
💡 The Verdict
Arlington is 11% cheaper than Tyler overall. A $75,000 salary in Arlington is equivalent to $84,375 in Tyler.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Arlington (left) vs Tyler (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Arlington versus Tyler. Differences shown from Arlington perspective.
| Item | Arlington | Tyler | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,000/mo | $1,060/mo | $-60.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,300/mo | $1,540/mo | $-240.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,650/mo | $1,960/mo | $-310.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.68 | $2.63 | +$0.05 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.87 | $4.10 | $-0.23 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.91 | $3.31 | $-0.40 |
| Coffee (latte) | $6.14 | $5.78 | +$0.36 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.46 | $3.45 | +$0.01 |
| Restaurant Meal | $12.56 | $17.68 | $-5.12 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Arlington has the same purchasing power as $84,375 in Tyler.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tyler equals $66,667 in Arlington.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
Both states have similar effective tax rates on this salary level. Texas details → · Texas details →
Reading These Numbers: Arlington (96) vs Tyler (108)
Arlington at 96 is 4% below the US average, while Tyler at 108 is 8% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Arlington, the composite index of 96 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 86, followed by groceries (96), utilities (99), transportation (106), and healthcare (100). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,300/mo in Arlington and $1,540/mo in Tyler, the annual rent difference is approximately $2,880.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $14,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $153,000.0 difference in median home prices between Arlington and Tyler translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Arlington vs Tyler
Choosing between Arlington and Tyler involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing Arlington against Tyler, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.