A+
27%
Overall NAT. AVG.
24%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
54%
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 San Benito Texas National
Cost of living7392100
Goods & Services7696100
Groceries9296100
Health care8294100
Housing4683100
Transportation8392100
Utilities104104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in San Benito, TX

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in San Benito? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in San Benito stands at 73, making it 27% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

According to the latest cost of living report, San Benito stands out as one of the most budget-friendly places to reside in the nation. In fact, only a handful of cities boast a cost of living index that is at least 20% below the national average, and San Benito proudly belongs to that select group. This underscores the exceptional affordability of this region in comparison to other urban centers.

It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that San Benito stands out by reporting housing costs that are 53.9% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more manageable portion of their income to housing, resulting in greater financial flexibility.

Everyday essentials such as clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment all contribute to your overall cost of living. The good news is that in San Benito, these goods and services come in at 23.6% less than the national average. This means you can enjoy the things you need and love without breaking the bank. With such savings, you have the opportunity to allocate more funds towards your savings or other financial goals, ultimately enhancing your financial well-being.

As grocery prices continue to rise at a staggering rate, finding cities with affordable food can be a struggle. Luckily, San Benito boasts a grocery index that is 8.2% below the national average, ensuring that you can enjoy more affordable groceries compared to many other cities across the country.

Is San Benito Affordable?

Is San Benito 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 San Benito, for instance, where the median home price falls 67.9% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 21.3% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with San Benito flaunting a median household income of $30,565, 44.8% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in San Benito?

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 San Benito comes in at 4.4% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In San Benito, the groceries index is 8.2% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in San Benito starts at 6.25% and the income tax rates start at 0%.

Where is the Data From?

The San Benito cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in San Benito is 21% lower than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in San Benito is 27% lower than the national average
  • San Benito housing is 54% 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 San Benito

See all the best places to live around San Benito

Compare San Benito, 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$37,982$3,165$886$1,140
      Renters$22,054$1,838$515$662
      The affordability of the housing market in San Benito, TX as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among San Benito homeowners, the median income is $37,982. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $886 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $22,054. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $515 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 San Benito National avg. Difference
      Haircut $22.42$24.267.6%
      Beauty Salon $48.58$45.566.6%
      Toothpaste $3.62$3.702.3%
      Shampoo $1.22$1.284.4%
      Movie $11.97$12.131.3%
      Bowling $16.67$18.007.4%

      Groceries

      Item San Benito National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.53$5.845.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.61$1.572.4%
      Milk $4.68$4.670.1%
      Potatoes $4.98$4.930.9%
      Pizza $11.42$12.095.5%
      Beer $10.43$10.410.2%

      Health Care

      Item San Benito National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $95.94$125.6823.7%
      Doctor $109.53$135.7819.3%
      Dentist $133.27$113.2917.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.60$10.650.5%
      Lipitor $507.75$468.608.4%

      Housing

      Item San Benito National avg. Difference
      Home Price $59,300.00$184,700.0067.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,939.34$2,346.6917.4%
      Apartment Rent $747.00$949.0021.3%

      Transportation

      Item San Benito National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.00$3.4613.4%
      Tire Balancing $49.28$59.9217.8%

      Utilities

      Item San Benito National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $196.67$193.991.4%
      Phone $201.86$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.
      Solis, TX6388515.5%
      Tierra Bonita, TX658515.5%
      Yznaga, TX568515.5%
      Los Fresnos CDP, TX628515.5%
      Lasana, TX1498515.5%
      San Benito, TX24,2597327.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Bridgeton, NJ24,264945.9%
      Seal Beach, CA24,26814444.2%
      San Fernando, CA24,24414847.7%
      Elmwood Park, IL24,27411414.4%
      Loma Linda, CA24,23913434.4%
      San Benito, TX24,2597327.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.