City Comparison

Odessa vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Odessa

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

Sugar Land

Texas
110
Above Average
$456,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$128,400
Median Income

The Verdict

22.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 22.7%, with Odessa being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Odessa has equivalent purchasing power to $97,059 in Sugar Land.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
72
Odessa
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
96
Odessa
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
100
Odessa
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
93
Odessa
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
96
Odessa
96
Sugar Land

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Odessa has the same purchasing power as $97,059 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $57,955 in Odessa.

Living in Odessa vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Odessa's housing index of 72 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $223,000 vs $456,000. The $233,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,144 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,150/mo in Odessa compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Odessa and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Odessa vs $470/month in Sugar Land. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Odessa and 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Odessa vs $384 in Sugar Land. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Odessa and 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $73,500 in Odessa and $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,471 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,715/month to housing in Odessa vs $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 56 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Odessa is 22.7% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Odessa has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $97,059 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Odessa's housing index is 72 with median homes at $223,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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