Abilene, TX vs Port Arthur, TX

Port Arthur is moderately more affordable than Abilene, with a 14.2% lower cost of living index. Abilene scores 80 compared to 70 for Port Arthur, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Abilene can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Abilene is $1,106/month compared to $996/month in Port Arthur — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Port Arthur is more affordable at $96,900 median vs $178,900.

Median household income in Abilene is $62,720 compared to $45,752 in Port Arthur (+37.1%). While Abilene is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Abilene spend roughly 21.2% of their income on rent, less than the 26.1% in Port Arthur.