Texas: generally the cost of living is low. However, if you live in one of the four largest cities, like 2/3rds of the state's population:

- You need a car to do things (lots of financial distress there no matter the state).

- Housing is expensive.

- There is a lot of cheap labor keeping wages lower.

I can see why they might be at the top of that list.

I do wonder how much of this can be put down to an extremely lax regulatory environment within Texas itself.