When you are contemplating a move to a different state, or even a different city within the same state, one of the first things you will do is sit down with your favorite internet browser and start comparing the costs of things between Here and There. You can take a look at this helpful article to get a better understanding of what living costs are, how to calculate them, and how comparing them actually works. Here are some secret tips that online calculators will never share!

Take stock of your largest expenses

Obviously, the very first things on your financial planning agenda should be those that will typically cost you the most. Take a minute to analyze the expenses that you are currently facing in your “old” residence, see which ones are the big numbers of the bunch, and then see how much they might change when you relocate to your chosen Texas settlement.

Some of the most expensive points across the map are the housing itself and whatever transportation you will require – transportation for the actual move (especially if you have to do it in more than one round trip), transportation to and from work, or school if you have children who are not able or allowed to drive themselves yet, and so on, you get the picture.

Transportation can generally be one of two things: your own vehicle or something on a loan (we are leaving public transport solutions out of the equation for the moment). If you will be owning your own vehicle in your new city, you will need to factor in paying for gas, maintenance, repairs, insurance, registration, renewing the registration, parking tickets (because let’s be honest with each other here, there is no way that you will manage to avoid getting them every single time), and a pile of other, potentially unforeseen, stuff.

If you will be leasing, or if you take out a loan to be able to afford a vehicle, or if you decide to rely on a car rental service, you will also be faced with significant payments on a regular schedule. Things like all of the above can come as an especially huge and downright nasty financial shock if you used to live in a place that offered alternate travel solutions, such as reliable public transportation, a bicycle path network, or safe and convenient pedestrian routes. Suddenly being denied these conveniences (even if you willingly gave them up) can amount to a pretty rude awakening.

One possible solution is to get creative with your travel options as a way to reduce your driving expenses on the everyday level. Consider alternatives such as relying on the public transportation system, sharing odd rides with friends (the so-called “carpooling” practice), or selecting the most gas-efficient vehicle that you can afford at the given moment.

Property prices are also a tricky swamp to navigate. According to most netizens who have ever offered any Texas moving tips, the real estate market is arguably the most urgent thing to get on top of if you are considering moving house into this state.

Prices of homes are wildly varied, not just between Texas and other states, but between different places within Texas itself, too. In one place, you might be able to afford a nice cozy home for a three- or four-member family, whereas in some other city that exact same budget will barely net you an attic apartment for one twenty-something student. Moreover, along with a more expensive piece of property comes more expensive maintenance, too, and your taxes will probably jump as well.

See how much you spend on health, groceries, and utilities

Once you have gotten at least some idea of what to expect in the previous sector, you will need to consider the critical expenses categories in terms of securing the quality of your day to day life. These are the expenses you make to cover for your health care, your food, and all the utilities that you rely on for your daily functioning.

First off, consider your food spending. You can typically glean enough information from adverts for the grocery stores in the town or city you will be moving to that you can effectively contrast them with what you spend where you are. Some places have sky-high produce prices, due to low domestic production, whereas others give out discounts by the wagon. Therefore, it also pays to learn a little about the agricultural side of your potential new home, too.

The costs of utilities can also be a total rollercoaster ride. The price you need to pay for gas, water, trash disposal, and electrical energy (to name just the big four) is significantly different for homeowners as opposed to renters, making an educated estimate notoriously difficult to gauge. Therefore, your best bet is to get a rough idea and then set aside more money than what you think you will need. There are also steps you can take to reduce your utility bills, especially energy spending. Visit this page for some ideas: https://www.wikihow.com/Cut-Down-Your-Electricity-Bill

Compare the situation with taxes in both places

Finally, consider the tax rate changes that you will be facing. Whether you are a “classic” employee, a freelancer, a CEO, or a fresh entrepreneur with a startup to manage, your personal tax situation directly affects the amount of money you get to take home at the end of each working day.

Dig up the relevant documentation online and learn about state and local tax legislation that governs your new home. Predict any changes in your total income in time! Also, remember that property taxes are a league of their own. They will dictate the kinds of neighborhood and residence that will be available to you.

Some ways of reducing your tax spending are to donate to charity or similar state-approved deductions or to set up a “retirement pool” for your finances and regularly contribute to it.