A+
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
5%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Arlington Texas National
Cost of living10292100
Goods & Services10096100
Groceries9895100
Health care9497100
Housing10583100
Transportation9292100
Utilities113102100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Arlington, TX

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Arlington is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Arlington is 102, which is 2% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Arlington are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Arlington can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

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

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 23 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Arlington. The results indicated that 48% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 52% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Arlington Affordable?

Is Arlington 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 Arlington, for instance, where the median home price falls 1% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 13.9% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Arlington flaunting a median household income of $93,448, 14.9% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Arlington?

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Arlington, the transportation index is 8.2% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Arlington, the utilities index stands at 12.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Arlington 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Arlington is 10% higher than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Arlington is 2% higher than the national average
  • Arlington housing is 5% 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 Arlington

See all the best places to live around Arlington

Compare Arlington, TX Cost of Living

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      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$129,793$10,816$3,028$3,894
      Renters$62,727$5,227$1,464$1,882
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Arlington 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. Arlington has a median income of about $129,793 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $3,028 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $62,727. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,464 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 Arlington National avg. Difference
      Haircut $36.94$27.6233.8%
      Beauty Salon $76.53$51.1149.8%
      Toothpaste $4.07$4.090.6%
      Shampoo $1.61$1.544.4%
      Movie $12.47$12.883.2%
      Yoga $15.00$19.6623.7%

      Groceries

      Item Arlington National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.24$7.706.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.57$1.665.6%
      Milk $4.58$4.733.2%
      Potatoes $5.49$5.264.4%
      Pizza $11.64$12.768.8%
      Beer $11.10$10.555.2%

      Health Care

      Item Arlington National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $82.46$140.0641.1%
      Doctor $166.67$153.828.4%
      Dentist $97.49$123.1520.8%
      Ibuprofen $11.64$11.730.8%
      Lipitor $24.95$23.615.7%

      Housing

      Item Arlington National avg. Difference
      Home Price $330,051.00$326,622.001.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,194.33$2,480.2511.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,645.00$1,444.0013.9%

      Transportation

      Item Arlington National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.71$3.0611.3%
      Tire Balancing $65.00$65.210.3%

      Utilities

      Item Arlington National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $259.77$220.1218.0%
      Phone $204.40$195.714.4%
      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.
      Horseshoe Bend, TX6418614.4%
      Cockrell Hill, TX4,306928.5%
      Everman, TX6,422919.0%
      Forest Hill, TX13,444946.5%
      Blue Mound, TX2,372946.3%
      Arlington, TX406,0651021.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      New Orleans, LA406,8931066.2%
      Tampa, FL403,92711010.1%
      Tulsa, OK411,7118911.4%
      Wichita, KS398,457918.8%
      Aurora, CO393,10212323.4%
      Arlington, TX406,0651021.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.