Software developer earning $139,500 in Chicago, IL, salary unchanged wherever you go. One adult, renting a 1-bedroom. You keep $4,625 a month today.
Same paycheck, side by side. Open a city to see the monthly gap.
What you'd keep
Where a software developer keeps the most
$6,148/mo
Lubbock leaves the most after tax and rent
$139,500 remote · One adult, renting a 1-bedroom
| # | Metro | Left over | Vs home | Rent | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso, TX | $6,017 | +$1,392 | ||
| 2 | Lubbock, TX | $6,148 | +$1,523 | ||
| 3 | Amarillo, TX | $6,105 | +$1,480 | ||
| 4 | McAllen, TX | $6,132 | +$1,507 | ||
| 5 | Longview, TX | $6,125 | +$1,500 | ||
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $5,929 | +$1,304 | ||
| 7 | Wichita Falls, TX | $6,138 | +$1,513 | ||
| 8 | Killeen, TX | $6,059 | +$1,434 | ||
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $5,864 | +$1,239 | ||
| 10 | Laredo, TX | $6,056 | +$1,431 | ||
| 11 | Beaumont, TX | $6,008 | +$1,383 | ||
| 12 | Brownsville, TX | $5,997 | +$1,372 | ||
| 13 | College Station, TX | $5,993 | +$1,368 | ||
| 14 | Texarkana, TX | $6,088 | +$1,463 | ||
| 15 | Houston, TX | $5,704 | +$1,079 | ||
| 16 | Corpus Christi, TX | $5,886 | +$1,261 | ||
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $5,647 | +$1,022 | ||
| 18 | Kingsport, TN | $5,996 | +$1,371 | ||
| 19 | Clarksville, TN | $5,942 | +$1,317 | ||
| 20 | Austin, TX | $5,605 | +$980 |
Top 20 of 387, sorted by best fit for you.
The same order, with rent, tax, and the fit bars written out.
297 sunny days and the lowest rents in Texas, on the lowest wages.
Left over monthly
$6,017
+$1,392 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $973 and 262 sunny days; commutes average 18 minutes.
Left over monthly
$6,148
+$1,523 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,017 and 260 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.
Left over monthly
$6,105
+$1,480 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,027 and 237 sunny days; commutes average 23 minutes.
Left over monthly
$6,132
+$1,507 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $991 and 219 sunny days; commutes average 24 minutes.
Left over monthly
$6,125
+$1,500 vs today
No income tax and a logistics economy; wages trail the national median.
Left over monthly
$5,929
+$1,304 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,028 and 232 sunny days; commutes average 16 minutes.
Left over monthly
$6,138
+$1,513 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,109 and 222 sunny days; commutes average 24 minutes.
Left over monthly
$6,059
+$1,434 vs today
Among the cheapest big-city rents in the country, with the highest property tax rate here.
Left over monthly
$5,864
+$1,239 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,073 and 231 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.
Left over monthly
$6,056
+$1,431 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,130 and 223 sunny days; commutes average 23 minutes.
Left over monthly
$6,008
+$1,383 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,166 and 233 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.
Left over monthly
$5,997
+$1,372 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,209 and 222 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.
Left over monthly
$5,993
+$1,368 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,044 and 216 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes.
Left over monthly
$6,088
+$1,463 vs today
The cheapest housing of any top-10 metro, paid for in property tax and humidity.
Left over monthly
$5,704
+$1,079 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,276 and 232 sunny days; commutes average 22 minutes.
Left over monthly
$5,886
+$1,261 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,522 and 245 sunny days; commutes average 26 minutes.
Left over monthly
$5,647
+$1,022 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,109 and 205 sunny days; commutes average 23 minutes.
Left over monthly
$5,996
+$1,371 vs today
No state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,172 and 211 sunny days; commutes average 26 minutes.
Left over monthly
$5,942
+$1,317 vs today
Left over monthly
$5,605
+$980 vs today
Showing the top 20 of 387 by best fit for you.
Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. Every figure is an estimate, not a quote. See exactly how it's calculated. The 2026 snapshot of large metros on the default household is the best leftover metros report.