“Texas is so much cheaper than California.”

Sounds convincing… until you compare wages to housing.
Average monthly rent:
• Los Angeles: $2,740
• Houston: $1,670
Minimum wage:
• Los Angeles: $18.50/hour
• Texas: $7.25/hour
Hours of minimum wage work needed to cover one month’s rent:
• Los Angeles: 148 hours
• Houston: 230 hours
The rent might have a smaller price tag in Texas, but if you’re earning minimum wage, it can actually cost you over 80 extra hours of work every month just to keep a roof over your head.
A cheaper sticker price doesn’t always mean a lower cost of living.