TEXAS — Everyone knows everything is bigger in Texas, but does that include the cost of living? Show
Using data from the Cost of Living Index (COLI), EverythingLubbock.com ranked 18 metropolitan areas in Texas from most expensive to least expensive. The index is developed and published by the Council for Community And Economic Research (C2ER). The average Cost of Living Index for all places in the U.S. is 100. That means that anything above 100 is more expensive than the average and anything below is less expensive. Specifically, if an area has a cost of living score of 82, it is 18% lower than the average cost of living in the U.S. Comparatively, if the score is 123, the cost of living is, on average, 23% higher. According to C2ER, the index uses six different categories to determine the average cost of living for a certain area: housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, health care and miscellaneous. The categories were weighted differently, with housing contributing 30.9% of the score. All of the Texas metro areas we analyzed fell under the national average score of 100 – though some just barely. According to C2ER, larger differences in cost of living should be what readers really take note of. A difference in scores of two or three points isn’t as significant as a larger difference of 10 or more points. Because the data used in the ranking was collected in April and released in August, the prices as of October may have changed due to inflation. The annual inflation rate as of August was 8.3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means goods and services are, on average, 8.3% higher in 2022 than they were in 2021. Note: Some areas, such as San Angelo, College Station-Bryan and Laredo did not participate in the COLI and were not included on the list. 18. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington – 99.35With just over 7.6 million people in the metroplex, Dallas-Fort Worth was the largest metropolitan area in Texas. It was also the most expensive, according to the Cost of Living Index. With a score of 99.35, the cost of living in the metroplex was barely under the average for the U.S. The most expensive category in Dallas-Fort Worth was utilities, which were 10% higher than the average price in the U.S and the third-highest in Texas. The average monthly cost for electricity, according to COLI, was $209. 17. Austin-Round Rock – 97With a population of 2.2 million, Austin-Round Rock was the fourth largest metropolitan area in Texas, and the second most expensive. Housing in the Austin area was the highest in Texas, with average monthly rent for the area at $1,539. The average house price was also the highest in Austin, at $482,549. 16. Tyler – 95.9With a population of just over 233,000, Tyler was the fourth smallest metropolitan area on the list, but was the third most expensive. Tyler did not rank No. 1 in any of the categories the COLI looked at, but was ranked No. 3 in housing and tied with Wichita Falls for the No. 3 most expensive health care in Texas. 15. Beaumont-Port Arthur – 93.6The average house price in Beaumont-Port Arthur was the second highest in the state at $478,550. Groceries were also the second most expensive in the metropolitan area, which held just over 397,000 people as of the 2020 census. 14. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land – 93.45Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land was the second-largest metropolitan area in Texas at 7.1 million as of the 2020 census. Despite this, housing costs in the area were ranked in the middle of the list, with an average home price of $379,077 and average monthly rent of $1,339. 13. Killeen-Temple – 93.2While Killeen-Temple was the sixth most expensive area in Texas, the health care costs were the highest in the state and 17% more expensive than the average. For a patient without insurance, an average examination by a doctor was priced at $218. The area, which houses Fort Hood, had a population of just over 475,000. 12. Texarkana – 91.5Texarkana, which rests along the Texas and Arkansas border, had 147,519 people as of the 2020 census. The average home price in Texarkana was $308,817 and was the fourth lowest. Prices for miscellaneous items such as take-out, entertainment and alcohol were also the second highest in the state. 11. Midland-Odessa – 90.95The Midland-Odessa combined statistical area was home to 340,391 people as of 2020. Both Midland and Odessa had slightly different cost of living scores between them. The biggest disparity between the cost of living in Midland and Odessa was in transportation. Odessa had the highest transportation costs in Texas, while Midland had the fourth lowest in the state. 10. Lubbock – 90.4Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University and had a population of just over 321,000. Transportation costs in Lubbock were the lowest on the list at 86, or 14% lower than the national average. Additionally, utilities were the third lowest in Texas. 9. San Antonio-New Braunfels – 90.3While San Antonio-New Braunfels was the third most populated area in Texas at 2.5 million, it has the ninth lowest cost of living. Utilities in the San Antonio-New Braunfels area were the cheapest on the list, with an average monthly electricity cost of $136, $89 lower than the city with the highest utilities cost in the state. 8. Corpus Christi – 90.1Utilities cost in Corpus Christi were ranked as the highest in the state, at an average of $225 per month for electricity. As of the 2020 census, Corpus Christi had a population of 421,933. 7. Abilene – 90The Abilene metropolitan area had 176,549 people as of 2020, which was the second smallest on the list. Abilene also had the second highest transportation costs in Texas behind Midland-Odessa. This was offset by lower costs in other categories such as miscellaneous items, which were the second lowest in Texas. 6. El Paso – 89.9El Paso, which has a population of just over 868,000 people, had the sixth lowest cost of living in the state. Despite this, grocery costs in El Paso were ranked as the highest in Texas. However, this evened out, as El Paso had low costs for many of the categories. For example, the average house price in El Paso was $293,000, the third lowest on the list. 5. Wichita Falls – 89.5Wichita Falls was the second smallest metropolitan area on the list with 148,128 people. The North Texas city did not rank highest or lowest in any of the categories. 4. Waco – 87.7Waco, home of Baylor University, had a population of 277,547. While the cost of living in most categories was low, utilities cost in Waco was 10% higher than the average in the U.S. and the fourth highest in Texas. 3. Amarillo – 84.9Th Amarillo metropolitan area had 268,691 people as of the 2020 census. The cost of living ranked low in most categories including housing, utilities, transportation and health care. 2. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission – 78.8Housing costs in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission were especially low at 54, or 46% lower than the average in the U.S. The area, which housed just over 870,000 people as of 2020, was also the fifth largest in Texas. 1. Brownsville-Harlingen – 77Brownsville-Harlingen was the cheapest place to live in Texas, according to the index. The cost of living was 37% lower in Brownsville-Harlingen compared to Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington. The southernmost metropolitan area in Texas, Brownsville-Harlingen had 421,017 people as of 2020. Are you considering a move to Texas? If so, you’re in luck, because it is an affordable place to live! To help you in your search, we did the math to find out which of the 50 most populous cities would be the cheapest places to live in Texas. We considered factors like median home prices, average rent, average effective property tax rate, the estimated living wage, and the cost of living index for not only transportation and groceries but also the overall cost of living index. We then factored out towns with a population below 10,000 to end up with a list of the cheapest major cities. Explore the list below to help you choose which cities offer affordable living so that you can save more money for all the other things you enjoy. 1. Amarillo
 The most populous city in the Texas panhandle, Amarillo is the number one cheapest city to live in Texas. Everything in this city is well below the national average, making it a great spot to choose if you’re looking to save more money for vacations, retirement, or those occasional rainy days. Median Home Price: $147,611 Average Rent: $850 per month Average Cost of Bread: $2.29 Estimated Living Wage: $18.14 Cost of Living Index: 80.1 2. Brownsville
Located on the western Gulf Coast in South Texas, Brownsville is yet another one of our cheapest cities. The 18th largest city in Texas and home to Charro Days, Brownsville is a city that has a 70.3 cost of living index. To put it simply, that means that prices for most things will be about 29.7 percent cheaper than the national average. Brownsville also was the cheapest place to rent on our list. Median Home Price: $118,205 Average Rent: $736 per month Average Cost of Bread: $2.25 Estimated Living Wage: $17.31 per hour Cost of Living Index: 70.3 3. Wichita Falls
Based on our research, Wichita Falls, TX is the cheapest major city to buy a house. If you’re looking to purchase a home, you might want to consider this Texas city. Wichita Falls also had the cheapest cost of transportation out of all the more populated cities on the list. At 65.8, transportation here is 34.2 percent cheaper than the national average. Median Home Price: $116,290 Average Rent: $794 Average Cost of Bread: $2.25 Estimated Living Wage: $17.47 Cost of Living Index: 74.5 4. Laredo
On the northern bank of the Rio Grande river sits Laredo, TX. Homes in Laredo are priced well below both the national average of $269,039 and the Texas average of $224,266. For renters, Laredo was one of the top 10 cheapest Texas cities for renters. With most prices well below the national average, Laredo can be a great place to live if you want to save some money. Median Home Price: $162,457 Average Rent: $851 Average Cost of Bread: $2.31 Estimated Living Wage: $17.86 Cost of Living Index: 84.0 5. Lubbock
Fifth on our list is Lubbock, TX. Lubbock is not only the 11th most populous city in Texas but it is also in the top 10 cheapest cities for home prices, the overall cost of living, grocery costs, transportation costs, and estimated living wage. If you’re looking to save a few dollars, what better place to live than the birthplace of Buddy Holly. Median Home Price: $159,201 Average Rent: $955 Average Cost of Bread: $2.30 Estimated Living Wage: $17.92 Cost of Living Index: 79.9 6. Beaumont
This southeastern Texas city is home to the famous Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown museum which is a recreated town showing life during the start of the Texas oil boom. This Jefferson County city is a great place to live if you want to save money. It’s one of the top 10 cheapest places to buy a house or to rent according to our research. Median Home Price: $124,798 Average Rent: $868 Average Cost of Bread: $2.28 Estimated Living Wage: $18.10 Cost of Living Index: 78.3 7. Waco
Halfway between Dallas and Austin, you will find Waco, TX. Home to Baylor University, Waco is a thriving Texas city that is a great place to start a family. With home prices well below both the US and Texas average at $154,794, you’ll be able to finally afford the home of your dreams. Median Home Price: $154,794 Average Rent: $862 Average Cost of Bread: $2.31 Estimated Living Wage: $17.80 Cost of Living Index: 77.0 8. Abilene
Named one of the top 20 cities in America to buy a house by Niche, Abilene, TX is one of our top 20 cheapest major cities in Texas. With an average home price of $148,033, you’ll have money to spare if you choose this city as your next hometown. Median Home Price: $148,033 Average Rent: $924 Average Cost of Bread: $2.30 Estimated Living Wage: $17.68 Cost of Living Index: 78.1 9. Killeen
Killeen, TX is one of the largest cities in Bell County and is also one of the top 10 cheapest places to live in Texas. In Killeen, a family of four with two working adults would only need to make about $17.63 per hour to afford a comfortable lifestyle. It is one of the 10 lowest cities for estimated living wages on our list. Median Home Price: $150,113 Average Rent: $923 Average Cost of Bread: $2.28 Estimated Living Wage: $17.63 Cost of Living Index: 78.5 10. McAllen
McAllen, TX is the second-best place to live in Hidalgo County and part of that is probably due to how affordable it is. The average rent in McAllen is only about $789 a month, making it a great city for renters. Furthermore, grocery prices in McAllen tend to be 7.9 percent cheaper than the national average making regular staples like bread 20 cents cheaper than the $2.50 US average price. Median Home Price: $157,232 Average Rent: $789 Average Cost of Bread: $2.30 Estimated Living Wage: $17.37 Cost of Living Index: 78.6 11. Corpus Christi
Looking to start a family in Texas? Why not consider Corpus Christi? You could buy a beautiful new home for an average price of $179,046 and have money to spare! Additionally, transportation costs in this major Texas city are 20.3 percent below the US national average likely due to its robust inner-city public transportation system that has 28 different bus routes. Median Home Price: $179,046 Average Rent: $1,028 Average Cost of Bread: $2.32 Estimated Living Wage: $19.20 Cost of Living Index: 83.1 12. El Paso
El Paso, TX is the 22nd largest city in the entire United States, yet you will find that it is amongst one of the most affordable places to live in Texas. Unlike most major US cities, housing costs in El Paso are relatively low. The average home price is $152,537 and rent is only $837 per month. Both rent and average home price were within our top cheapest housing costs according to our research. Median Home Price: $152,537 Average Rent: $837 Average Cost of Bread: $2.30 Estimated Living Wage: $17.61 Cost of Living Index: 81.4 13. San Antonio
With average home prices about $22,000 cheaper than the Texas average and approximately $67,000 cheaper than the average home price in the United States, San Antonio might need to be the next place you buy a home. While this Bexar County city isn’t the cheapest place to live in Texas on our list, it is still extremely affordable making it a great place for young families. Median Home Price: $202,634 Average Rent: $992 per month Average Cost of Bread: $2.29 Estimated Living Wage: $19.38 Cost of Living Index: 89.7 14. Pasadena
Home to the largest all-volunteer fire department in the United States, Pasadena, TX is one of the 20 most affordable cities in Texas. While most prices in this city are well below the national average, transportation costs are quite high. Transportation costs are 17.1 percent above the national average. However, most other prices are well below the national average. Median Home Price: $175,494 Average Rent: $963 Average Cost of Bread: 2.41 Estimated Living Wage: $19.64 Cost of Living Index: 91.2 15. Midland
Home town to former First Lady Laura Bush, Midland, TX is a diverse, family-oriented city in the Lone Star State. Home prices in Midland are higher than the Texas average of $224,466 but they are still about $9,000 cheaper than the US National Average of $269,039. Median Home Price: $260,079 Average Rent: $1,262 Average Cost of Bread: $2.43 Estimated Living Wage: $19.90 Cost of Living Index: 98.6 16. Houston
Houston is not only the fourth largest city in the United States but it is also one of the cheapest places to live in Texas, a great feat for a major US city. Housing in Houston is relatively affordable with both Average home prices and average rent being below both the Texas and US national averages. Additionally, Houston had the lowest If you’re looking for a major city to call home, Houston might be right for you. Median Home Price: $204,810 Average Rent: $1,041 Average Cost of Bread: $2.45 Estimated Living Wage: $17.14 Cost of Living Index: 96.5 17. Arlington
Arlington, TX is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. It is home to both the International Bowling Hall of Fame and the Original Six Flags theme park. While the cost of living in this Texas city is 0.6 percent above the national average, transportation is 6.3 percent below average. Housing in this city is also below the national average for both rent and purchasing a home. Median Home Price: $236,401 Average Rent: $1,055 Average Cost of Bread: $2.45 Estimated Living Wage: $20.44 Cost of Living Index: 100.6 18. Denton
Denton, TX is known for its quality schools, diverse population, and Arts and Jazz Festival. 18th on our list of cheapest places to live in Texas. Denton has low transportation costs. Compared with the national average transportation cost of $11,345 per year, transportation in Denton should cost you about $10,131.09 per year, or 10.7 percent less than average. Median Home Price: $266,964 Average Rent: $1,082 Average Cost of Bread: $2.48 Estimated Living Wage: $20.53 Cost of Living Index: 97.1 19. Irving
This Dallas city suburb is yet another of our 20 most affordable places to live in Texas. Irving, TX is a great place for young professionals and young families. Average home prices in Irving are $14,654 below the national average home price of $269,039. Median Home Price: $254,385 Average Rent: $1,146 Average Cost of Bread: $2.49 Estimated Living Wage: $20.43 Cost of Living Index: 100.6 20. Mesquite
Mesquite, TX is a diverse suburb of Dallas and is best known for its many trees according to the National Arbor Day Foundation. While transportation costs in Mesquite are high (23 percent above the national average), other costs are low. In fact, home prices in Mesquite are approximately $65,000 below the national average making it a great place to call home. Median Home Price: $204,027 Average Rent: $1,104 Average Cost of Bread: $2.42 Estimated Living Wage: $20.43 Cost of Living Index: 98.5 MethodologyFull Data Here To come up with a list of the top 20 cheapest places to live in Texas, we started with a list of the 50 most populated cities in the state. While many rural areas are certainly cheaper on paper, we had to consider that because they are often further away from high-paying jobs, this might cause undue strain on families and increase their cost of living, making the move to these places more expensive. To calculate which cities were cheaper to live in, we used data from a variety of sources. We factored in median home prices, average rent, average effective property tax rate, the estimated living wage, and the cost of living index for not only transportation and groceries but also the overall cost of living index. We wanted to put the cost of living for groceries in some perspective so we used the average cost of bread in the United States and multiplied it by the groceries cost index to give readers an idea of what bread might cost in these cities when not on sale. After collecting all these data points for each of the 50 cities on our list, we ranked each city based on each factor. After ranking them for home prices, rent, effective property tax rates, transportation cost of living index, groceries cost of living index, and overall cost of living index, we then averaged their ranks to get a final ranking. We factored out any towns with a population of 10k. The list we presented above are the cities that ranked lowest on the list. If you’re looking to make a change in your life, consider calling one of these 20 cheapest places to live home. By saving money on your day-to-day expenses, you can save more money for adventures, retirement, or your children’s college funds. Contact Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate: HomeCity today for more information. |
Beautiful affordable places to live in texas
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