Holiday shopping: See average budget in your Texas city

Shoppers roam around NRG Center during the annual Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024 in Houston. Holiday sales are expected to increase from last year, despite average credit card debt also rising.

Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

How much are you spending this holiday season? And how big is the gap between your budget and what you'll actually spend?

As much fun as the holidays can be, they're often also a source of financial stress. The National Retail Federation anticipates holiday sales will rise to 4.2% this year — from 3.7% last year — and reach over $1 trillion. Meanwhile, credit card debt remains an issue: In the third quarter of this year, the average household had $10,227 in credit card debt, up 2.3% from 2024 per WalletHub data.

To give consumers a sense of what their budgets should look like, WalletHub analyzed over 550 U.S. cities. The study determined maximum holiday budgets using key measures like income, age and savings-to-expenses ratios.

"Depending on the city, an American’s holiday budget this year can range anywhere from just over $200 to more than $4,000, taking into account residents’ income, their existing debt obligations and the cost of living," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "Regardless of how well-off you are this season, it’s important to stick to a budget that fits your financial profile so you don’t rack up unsustainable debt and end up in a bad position after the holidays. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the holidays and show you care without spending much money, like hosting potlucks or giving handmade gifts."

10 US cities with largest holiday budgets

1. Palo Alto, Calif.— $4,485
2. Mountain View, Calif.— $4,266
3. Newton, Mass.— $4,069
4. Flower Mound, Texas — $3,941
5. Kirkland, Wash.— $3,866
6. Milpitas, Calif.— $3,702
7. Sunnyvale, Calif.— $3,691
8. Santa Clara, Calif.— $3,690
9. Redwood City, Calif.— $3,627
10. Bellevue, Wash.— $3,603

10 US cities with smallest holiday budgets

1. Elizabeth, N.J. — $212
2. Hartford, Conn.— $332
3. Passaic, N.J.— $510
4. Harlingen, Texas — $580
5. Reading, Penn. — $613
6. Canton, Ohio — $622
7. Gainesville, Fla.— $632
8. Shreveport, La.— $666
9. Macon-Bibb County, Ga.— $669
10. Baton Rouge, La.— $674

Average holiday budgets in Texas cities

What's the average holiday budget where you live? Find your city in the list below.

• No. 4: Flower Mound— $3,941
• No. 12: Frisco— $3,491
• No. 19: Pearland— $3,277
• No. 20: The Woodlands — $3,265
• No. 22: Sugar Land — $3,191
• No. 28: Allen— $3,055
• No. 31: Cedar Park — $3,028
• No. 34: League City— $2,997
• No. 40: Plano— $2,812
• No. 47: Round Rock— $2,641
• No. 55: McKinney— $2,502
• No. 56: Carrollton— $2,498
• No. 82: Richardson— $2,146
• No. 96: North Richland Hills— $1,985
• No. 106: Lewisville— $1,928
• No. 130: Austin— $1,786
• No. 136: Irving— $1,772
• No. 144: Fort Worth— $1,719
• No. 150: Grand Prairie— $1,703
• No. 161: Odessa— $1,663
• No. 172: Denton— $1,621
• No. 182: Garland— $1,591
• No. 193: Dallas— $1,559
• No. 195: Arlington— $1,557
• No. 219: New Braunfels— $1,483
• No. 221: Tyler— $1,476
• No. 238: San Angelo— $1,418
• No. 241: Amarillo— $1,411
• No. 266: Wichita Falls— $1,348
• No. 277: Mesquite— $1,323
• No. 285: Houston— $1,302
• No. 291: Pasadena— $1,294
• No. 303: Brownsville— $1,270
• No. 319: Abilene— $1,234
• No. 321: Missouri City— $1,233
• No. 339: Victoria— $1,205
• No. 357: Waco— $1,163
• No. 364: Midland— $1,152
• No. 388: Beaumont— $1,106
• No. 412: Conroe— $1,063
• No. 439: Temple— $1,007
• No. 469: Corpus Christi— $936
• No. 475: San Antonio— $930
• No. 490: Baytown— $890
• No. 493: Laredo— $877
• No. 497: McAllen— $862
• No. 506: Edinburg— $853
• No. 508: Lubbock— $848
• No. 509: El Paso— $847
• No. 510: Bryan— $844
• No. 516: Killeen— $822
• No. 517: Longview— $814
• No. 523: Mission— $799
• No. 530: Pharr— $781
• No. 542: College Station— $710
• No. 555: Harlingen— $580