Compare states
Tennessee vs Texas for retirement
On the 8 lines this page tracks, Texas comes out lower or more retiree-friendly on 4 of them. That is a starting point, not a verdict: your own spending, housing, income mix, and the city you pick still decide the real number.
A green check marks the more retiree-friendly side on that line (lower cost, lower tax, or Social Security not taxed). Lower is not always better for you; these are state averages, not your plan.
Common questions
Tennessee vs Texas, answered.
Is Tennessee or Texas cheaper to retire in?
On the BEA cost-of-living index, Tennessee sits at 92 and Texas at 97, where 100 is the U.S. average. So the same basket of goods tends to cost less in Tennessee. Housing and your own budget still decide the real number.
Which has lower taxes for retirees, Tennessee or Texas?
Tennessee has no state income tax. Texas has no state income tax. Tennessee's average combined sales tax is 9.6% and its property-tax planning rate is 0.7%; Texas is 8.2% and 1.8%.
Does Tennessee or Texas tax Social Security?
Tennessee does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here. Texas does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here.
Where is long-term care cheaper, Tennessee or Texas?
In the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, assisted living runs about $70,140 a year in Tennessee and $67,992 in Texas; a semi-private nursing-home room is about $113,150 versus $67,525.