Hot tub vs pool in Texas.
Updated October 2026 · By the Lone Star Spas team in Texas
For about a tenth of the cost of a typical Texas inground pool, a hot tub gives you warm water year round, installs in a day instead of months, and costs roughly $30 to $60 a month to run. A pool is the better pick if you want big swim parties all summer.
The numbers
| Hot tub | Inground pool | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront | $7,000 to $15,000 plus pad and power | $60,000 to $100,000+ |
| Install time | One delivery day | 3 to 9 months |
| Use | Year round | Mostly May to September unless heated |
| Monthly running cost | About $30 to $60 | $100 to $300 with chemicals, power and service |
| Yard space | About 8 by 8 feet | Most of the backyard |
The middle option
If you want to swim but not build a pool, a plunge pool or swim spa sits in between: real swimming water for a fraction of a pool, installed in a weekend.