The Cost of Living in Different Cities in Texas
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: June 17, 2022
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There are so many different factors that go into choosing the best place to move to, and the cost of living should be one of them. If you are looking to save up some money or pay off some debt, you should look for a town with a low cost of living. Letâs have a look at the cost of living for some of the great cities in Texas.
What is the cost of living, and what does it mean?
Cost of living is a number that shows you how far off of the national average the area is when it comes to basic needs like rent, food, and other living supplies.
The average changes every year, and it is represented by the number 100. A cost of living index number that is above 100 means that the area will be more expensive than the national average, while a number lower means that the area will be less expensive.
All of the numbers in this article are provided by bestplaces.net, which is a comprehensive guide that uses a wide array of data to find the cost of living in each city.
Houston, Texas
Population: 2,300,000
Cost of Living Index: 96.5
Houston is the largest city in the state of Texas, and itâs the fourth most populated city in the country. It has an excellent cost of living compared to many larger cities in the country with similar populations, plus the highest cost for residents is transportation (119), and the lowest cost is housing (80.2). The median home cost for Houston is in the lower 200k range, which is much lower than the national average.
San Antonio, Texas
Population: 1,400,000
Cost of Living Index: 89.7
If you want to try out one of the larger cities in the state with a low cost of living, then San Antonio is one of the best choices. The city is rich in culture and full of so many amazing homes. The highest cost they have is in the area of transportation (99.3), and their lowest costs are in housing (75.9), plus the median home cost for San Antonio is in the low 200k range, which is much lower than the national average.
Dallas, Texas
Population: 1,300,000
Cost of Living Index: 101.6
This one is the first one on the list that is actually higher than average, but it still has an excellent number compared to other cities with similar populations (San Francisco, California, has a population of roughly 860,000 people, and its cost of living index is a whopping 269).
Their highest costs are transportation (117.1), and their lowest costs are in housing (92.9). The median home value for Dallas is in the upper 200k range, which is close to the national average.
Fort Worth, Texas
Population: 950,000
Cost of Living Index: 99.8
Sitting just under the national average is the gorgeous city of Fort Worth which has a large number of post-secondary schools, including Texas A&M University School of Law.
The city has its highest costs in transportation (113.9) and its lowest costs in housing (85.5). The median home value for Fort Worth is in the mid-200k range, which is lower than the national average.
Arlington, Texas
Population: 390,000
Cost of Living Index: 100.6
Arlington is a metro city that is home to the University of Texas at Arlington, the Dallas Cowboys, and one of the largest theme parks in the country, Six Flags over Texas.
Arlington has a high cost of transportation (114.6) and a low cost of housing (88.5). Homes in the city typically sell in the mid-200k range, which is lower than the national average.
Plano, Texas
Population: 280,000
Cost of Living Index: 109.3
Plano has an overall higher cost of living than some of the other cities on the list, and it is home to over 20 different corporate headquarters of Fortune 500 companies.
The city has a much higher cost than average for housing (143.6), but they have low costs for transportation (88). The median home cost in Plano is in the lower 400k range, which is significantly higher than the national average.
Amarillo, Texas
Population: 200,000
Cost of Living Index: 80.1
One of the lowest on the list is the amazing city of Amarillo. The city is known for many different ventures, including its nuclear facility and its aircraft assembly plant. The city has higher costs for health care (103.9) but significantly lower costs for housing (59.2), so itâs one of the best places to move to if you are looking to commute to a larger city. The median home value for Amarillo is in the mid-100k range.
McKinney, Texas
Population: 195,000
Cost of Living Index: 107.9
Another great city that has a slightly higher than average cost of living but plenty of amazing townhomes available in the city of McKinney. This city has been growing steadily over the last few years, and itâs situated in a great location for commuters. They have a higher cost of housing (136.5) and a lower cost of transportation (92). The median home value in McKinney is in the low 400k range.
Frisco, Texas
Population: 210,000
Cost of Living Index: 120
The highest cost of living on this list comes from the city of Frisco. The city has a very high cost of housing (175) and a low cost of transportation (92.8).
The median home value for Frisco is in the lower 500k range. This is an excellent example of a town that doesnât need a high population to have a high cost of living.
The cost of living is one of the best ways to judge how expensive the city will be for you. The cost of living isnât always based on population or location so make sure you compare if you are looking to move somewhere to save money.
Thank you for reading!
