Joshua, TX vs South Padre Island, TX

Joshua is moderately more affordable than South Padre Island, with a 14.8% lower cost of living index. Joshua scores 97 compared to 114 for South Padre Island, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of South Padre Island can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Joshua is $1,286/month compared to $1,421/month in South Padre Island — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Joshua is more affordable at $271,000 median vs $498,800.

Median household income in Joshua is $60,466 compared to $61,578 in South Padre Island (-1.8%). South Padre Island does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Joshua spend roughly 25.5% of their income on rent, less than the 27.7% in South Padre Island.

Climate-wise, South Padre Island is notably warmer with an average of 74.8°F compared to 67.8°F in Joshua. Joshua receives more rainfall at 32.6" per year compared to 23.3" in South Padre Island.