A+
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
29%
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 Lufkin Texas National
Cost of living8892100
Goods & Services9096100
Groceries9696100
Health care9594100
Housing7183100
Transportation9192100
Utilities112104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Lufkin, TX

The cost of living in Lufkin 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 Lufkin is 88, which is 12% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Everyday necessities such as clothing, personal hygiene products and recreational activities collectively contribute to the overall cost of living. The favorable news is that in Lufkin, these essential goods and services are priced 10.2% below the national average. This translates to the ability to procure essential items and indulge in leisure activities without depleting one's financial resources excessively. With the resulting savings, individuals have the opportunity to allocate additional funds towards their savings or other financial objectives.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Lufkin?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 6 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Lufkin. The feedback revealed that 33% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 67% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Lufkin Affordable?

Is Lufkin affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Lufkin, for instance, where the median home price falls 35.8% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 11.4% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Lufkin flaunting a median household income of $48,369, 12.6% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Lufkin?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Lufkin comes in at 12.2% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Lufkin, the groceries index is 4.1% lower than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Lufkin cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Lufkin is 5% lower than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Lufkin is 12% lower than the national average
  • Lufkin housing is 29% lower 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 Lufkin

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Compare Lufkin, 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$59,249$4,937$1,382$1,778
      Renters$34,200$2,850$798$1,026
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Lufkin, TX, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Lufkin, the median monthly income is $59,249 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,382 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $34,200, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $798 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 Lufkin National avg. Difference
      Haircut $22.25$24.268.3%
      Beauty Salon $71.45$45.5656.8%
      Toothpaste $3.70$3.700.1%
      Shampoo $1.23$1.283.8%
      Movie $12.61$12.134.0%
      Bowling $21.33$18.0018.5%

      Groceries

      Item Lufkin National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.03$5.8413.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.65$1.574.7%
      Milk $4.57$4.672.3%
      Potatoes $5.00$4.931.3%
      Pizza $11.54$12.094.5%
      Beer $10.80$10.413.8%

      Health Care

      Item Lufkin National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $143.03$125.6813.8%
      Doctor $158.64$135.7816.8%
      Dentist $139.33$113.2923.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.59$10.650.6%
      Lipitor $368.77$468.6021.3%

      Housing

      Item Lufkin National avg. Difference
      Home Price $118,500.00$184,700.0035.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,286.82$2,346.6940.1%
      Apartment Rent $841.00$949.0011.4%

      Transportation

      Item Lufkin National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.07$3.4611.2%
      Tire Balancing $63.10$59.925.3%

      Utilities

      Item Lufkin National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $230.61$193.9918.9%
      Phone $208.71$192.258.6%
      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.
      Wells, TX8997822.0%
      Diboll, TX5,2107920.8%
      Huntington, TX3,1718019.9%
      Redland, TX1,0458415.9%
      Burke, TX7288712.6%
      Lufkin, TX35,3368812.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Monroe, NC35,339991.2%
      La Porte, TX35,340982.1%
      Olney, MD35,35015353.5%
      Moose Jaw, SK35,355n/a 
      Tooele, UT35,3131066.2%
      Lufkin, TX35,3368812.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.