Uprootmap
Abilene vs Odessa
Abilene and Odessa
Photo: Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Odessa are above the US rate in this release, 7.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Abilene to Odessa
In 2022-2023, 30 households filed a move from Abilene to Odessa (about 61 people, average adjusted gross income $52,100). 39 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,421 in Abilene and $1,178 in Odessa. Abilene has no state tax on wages. Odessa has no state tax on wages. Local pay in Odessa is 99% of the national level for the same work, against 84% in Abilene.
Odessa averages 269 sunny days, with July highs around 97°F and January nights around 35°F. Abilene is 254 sunny days, 98°F in July, 36°F in January. Commutes average 25 minutes in Odessa and 18 in Abilene.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 30 households moved Abilene → Odessa (about 61 people, average AGI $52,100). 39 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Abilene and Odessa changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 204 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,300
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,200
- Rent a truck
- $450–$850
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Dig into Odessa
Questions
Is Odessa cheaper than Abilene after tax and rent?
Yes. Odessa leaves about $225 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,421 in Abilene and $1,178 in Odessa.
Does Odessa have state income tax?
Odessa is in Texas, which has no state income tax.
Did people actually move from Abilene to Odessa?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.