Full annual cost of retirement in Austin-corridor 55+ communities — housing, healthcare, food, transportation, taxes, and what Texas-specific costs surprise buyers from other states
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Talk to a Specialist →Most 55+ community marketing shows HOA fees and home prices. A real retirement budget includes everything: housing costs, healthcare premiums and out-of-pocket, food, transportation, entertainment, and the Texas-specific items that do not appear in brochures. This guide builds a complete picture for three profiles: modest-budget couple, comfortable-budget couple, and active-lifestyle couple.
| Housing Cost Component | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage (if any — assumes 50% down, 30yr at 6.5%) | ~$1,422 | ~$17,064 |
| HOA | $100 | $1,200 |
| Property tax (65+ primary, all exemptions) | ~$375 | ~$4,500 |
| Homeowners insurance | ~$175 | ~$2,100 |
| Lawn care | ~$125 | ~$1,500 |
| Maintenance reserve (1% of value/yr) | ~$375 | ~$4,500 |
| Total housing (with mortgage) | ~$2,572/mo | ~$30,864/yr |
Cash buyers (no mortgage) reduce the monthly housing cost to approximately $1,150/month. Many buyers from NJ, NY, and CA arrive as cash buyers after equity events, which dramatically improves the budget picture.
| Healthcare Component | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Part B premium (2026, standard) | ~$185/person | ~$2,220/person |
| Medigap Plan G premium (est., 65–70 age range) | ~$150–$200/person | ~$1,800–$2,400/person |
| Part D prescription drug plan | ~$30–$80/person | ~$360–$960/person |
| Dental, vision, hearing (not covered by Medicare) | ~$100–$150/person | ~$1,200–$1,800/person |
| Out-of-pocket medical (copays, prescriptions) | ~$100–$300/month total | ~$1,200–$3,600/yr |
| Total healthcare — couple (est.) | ~$900–$1,400/mo | ~$10,800–$16,800/yr |
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| Budget Category | Modest ($65K/yr income) | Comfortable ($100K/yr) | Active ($150K/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (cash purchase) | $13,800 | $13,800 | $18,000 (larger home) |
| Healthcare | $12,000 | $14,000 | $16,000 |
| Food and dining | $12,000 | $18,000 | $24,000 |
| Transportation | $8,000 | $10,000 | $14,000 |
| Golf (Sun City) | $0 | $2,500 (single) | $4,200 (couple) |
| Entertainment / travel | $6,000 | $12,000 | $24,000 |
| Personal / miscellaneous | $6,000 | $8,000 | $12,000 |
| Total annual budget | ~$57,800 | ~$78,300 | ~$112,200 |
Texas income tax: $0 on all of it. The after-tax income available for spending is the full gross retirement income — no state-level withholding. For a couple with $100,000 in retirement income in New Jersey, approximately $6,000–$9,000 of that would go to state income taxes. In Texas, $100,000 is $100,000.
Tell us your retirement income profile, target community, and home price — we'll build a complete Texas retirement budget for your scenario.
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