A+
13%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
59%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Leander Texas National
Cost of living11392100
Goods & Services9496100
Groceries9196100
Health care8694100
Housing15983100
Transportation8692100
Utilities110104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Leander, TX

The cost of living in Leander affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Leander is 113, which is 13% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Leander cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 58.6% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Groceries are getting more and more expensive, and it's hard to find cities with budget-friendly food options. But here in Leander, the grocery index is 8.7% less than the national average, which means you can purchase your groceries without breaking the bank.

Is Leander Affordable?

Is Leander an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Leander, the median home price is 58.1% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 59.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Leander come in at $106,108, which is 91.8% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Leander?

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Leander, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and income tax rates kick off at 0%.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Leander, the transportation index is 13.6% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Leander, the healthcare costs are 13.7% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Leander displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Leander is 23% higher than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Leander is 13% higher than the national average
  • Leander housing is 59% higher than the national average
  • Texas general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Texas state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Leander

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Compare Leander, TX Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$119,310$9,943$2,784$3,580
      Renters$63,259$5,272$1,476$1,898
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Leander is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Leander has a median income of about $119,310 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,784 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $63,259. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,476 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Texas Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Texas 6.25% 8.25%

      Texas Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Texas 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Leander National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.07$24.264.9%
      Beauty Salon $40.80$45.5610.5%
      Toothpaste $3.51$3.705.3%
      Shampoo $1.18$1.287.6%
      Movie $12.25$12.130.9%
      Bowling $16.72$18.007.1%

      Groceries

      Item Leander National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.08$5.8413.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.50$1.574.4%
      Milk $4.67$4.670.0%
      Potatoes $4.82$4.932.4%
      Pizza $11.51$12.094.8%
      Beer $10.49$10.410.7%

      Health Care

      Item Leander National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $125.61$125.680.1%
      Doctor $108.32$135.7820.2%
      Dentist $126.50$113.2911.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.36$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $431.76$468.607.9%

      Housing

      Item Leander National avg. Difference
      Home Price $292,000.00$184,700.0058.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,976.20$2,346.6915.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,516.00$949.0059.7%

      Transportation

      Item Leander National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.04$3.4612.1%
      Tire Balancing $62.39$59.924.1%

      Utilities

      Item Leander National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $212.65$193.999.6%
      Phone $201.78$192.255.0%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lago Vista CDP, TX71946.0%
      Bertram, TX1,890936.8%
      Liberty Hill, TX4,633981.7%
      Round Rock, TX128,8121088.1%
      Wells Branch, TX12,5121088.1%
      Leander, TX60,61311313.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Monterey Park, CA60,59716868.2%
      Lakewood, WA60,56412625.8%
      Marietta, GA60,68711514.6%
      Terre Haute, IN60,6908811.5%
      Wesley Chapel, FL60,5341099.4%
      Leander, TX60,61311313.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.