Odessa cost of living
Prices in the Odessa, TX metro area run at 93.9 against a national average of 100, ranking it #184 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 89.7.
What drives the number
Prices in Odessa run at 93.9 where the national average is 100, so about 6.1 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #184 of 387 metro areas. Against Texas as a whole it is 3.2 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 93.8, rents at 89.7, other services at 82.9. That is less common than it sounds. In most places rents sit well away from the other two, and the overall figure is really a housing figure in disguise. Goods at 93.8 are themselves 6.2 points off national, which is a wide gap for a category that is mostly shipped in.
A salary here goes further than the same salary somewhere at 100. Divide by 93.9 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure, and it will come out higher than the headline.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Odessa is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 3,280 | $55,110 | $58,690 | $57,440 |
| General and Operations Managers | 2,730 | $99,960 | $106,454 | $102,950 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 2,490 | $27,120 | $28,882 | $30,480 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | 2,010 | $50,510 | $53,791 | $57,980 |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,820 | $30,900 | $32,907 | $34,580 |
| Cashiers | 1,790 | $28,180 | $30,011 | $31,190 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,620 | $39,100 | $41,640 | $37,090 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 1,550 | $59,780 | $63,663 | $63,760 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 93.9.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | 103.1 | 117.9 | #48 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | 98.6 | 104.5 | #101 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | 98.1 | 120.4 | #112 |
| Midland | 95.8 | 101.5 | #150 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | 94.7 | 94.6 | #175 |
| Sherman-Denison | 93.8 | 89.5 | #187 |
Odessa: common questions
Is Odessa expensive?
Prices are 6.1% below the national average, a parity of 93.9 where the country is 100. It ranks #184 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Texas as a whole it is 3.2 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Odessa?
The median worker there earns $47,420, which buys what $50,501 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 89.7 against goods at 93.8. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.