A+
3%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
0%
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 Universal City Texas National
Cost of living9792100
Goods & Services9996100
Groceries9596100
Health care10594100
Housing10083100
Transportation9392100
Utilities85104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Universal City, TX

The cost of living in Universal City 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 Universal City is 97, which is 3% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

In Universal City, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Universal City will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Universal City Affordable?

Is Universal City 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 Universal City, the median home price is 2.5% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 6.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Universal City come in at $64,170, which is 16% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Universal City?

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 Universal City, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and income tax rates kick off at 0%.

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Universal City 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 Universal City is 5% higher than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Universal City is 3% lower than the national average
  • Universal City housing is equal to 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 Universal City

See all the best places to live around Universal City

Compare Universal City, 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$82,319$6,860$1,921$2,470
      Renters$45,437$3,786$1,060$1,363
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Universal City, TX, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Universal City, homeowners have a median income of $82,319. Using that number, a maximum of $1,921 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $45,437, which means there is a maximum of $1,060 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Universal City National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.78$24.2614.4%
      Beauty Salon $43.67$45.564.2%
      Toothpaste $3.60$3.702.7%
      Shampoo $1.06$1.2817.2%
      Movie $9.50$12.1321.7%
      Bowling $13.70$18.0023.9%

      Groceries

      Item Universal City National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $4.93$5.8415.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.57$1.570.1%
      Milk $4.57$4.672.2%
      Potatoes $4.55$4.937.7%
      Pizza $11.32$12.096.3%
      Beer $10.50$10.410.8%

      Health Care

      Item Universal City National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $132.00$125.685.0%
      Doctor $171.14$135.7826.0%
      Dentist $108.33$113.294.4%
      Ibuprofen $10.16$10.654.7%
      Lipitor $481.60$468.602.8%

      Housing

      Item Universal City National avg. Difference
      Home Price $180,000.00$184,700.002.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,951.07$2,346.6916.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,013.00$949.006.7%

      Transportation

      Item Universal City National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.03$3.4612.4%
      Tire Balancing $57.20$59.924.5%

      Utilities

      Item Universal City National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $217.71$193.9912.2%
      Phone $201.97$192.255.1%
      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.
      Marion, TX8868613.7%
      Kirby, TX8,7098911.3%
      Balcones Heights, TX3,128928.0%
      Lake Dunlap, TX1,546946.3%
      San Antonio, TX1,529,133955.5%
      Universal City, TX20,691972.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Palisades Park, NJ20,69316464.3%
      Cobourg, ON20,684n/a 
      Sidney, OH20,698945.6%
      East Moline, IL20,6838811.7%
      Pitt Meadows, BC20,683n/a 
      Universal City, TX20,691972.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.