A
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
53%
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 Buda Texas National
Cost of living11292100
Goods & Services9696100
Groceries9896100
Health care9894100
Housing15383100
Transportation8992100
Utilities95104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Buda, TX

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Buda? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Buda stands at 112, making it 12% higher 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.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Buda, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 52.7% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Buda Affordable?

Is Buda affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Buda, the median home price is 51.1% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 56.7% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Buda boasting a median household income of $84,074, 52% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Buda?

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Buda, the transportation index is 11.3% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Buda, the general sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and income tax rates begin at 0%.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Buda, the groceries index registers 2.4% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Buda 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 Buda is 22% higher than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Buda is 12% higher than the national average
  • Buda housing is 53% 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 Buda

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Compare Buda, 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$101,798$8,483$2,375$3,054
      Renters$68,542$5,712$1,599$2,056
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Buda, 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 Buda, homeowners have a median income of $101,798. Using that number, a maximum of $2,375 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $68,542, which means there is a maximum of $1,599 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 Buda National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.11$24.2624.1%
      Beauty Salon $53.43$45.5617.3%
      Toothpaste $3.66$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.23$1.283.9%
      Movie $12.82$12.135.7%
      Bowling $18.22$18.001.2%

      Groceries

      Item Buda National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.49$5.846.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.67$1.576.2%
      Milk $4.64$4.670.7%
      Potatoes $4.87$4.931.2%
      Pizza $9.57$12.0920.8%
      Beer $10.18$10.412.3%

      Health Care

      Item Buda National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $117.38$125.686.6%
      Doctor $108.42$135.7820.1%
      Dentist $124.98$113.2910.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.52$10.651.2%
      Lipitor $504.11$468.607.6%

      Housing

      Item Buda National avg. Difference
      Home Price $279,000.00$184,700.0051.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,434.44$2,346.693.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,487.00$949.0056.7%

      Transportation

      Item Buda National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.06$3.4611.7%
      Tire Balancing $53.75$59.9210.3%

      Utilities

      Item Buda National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $172.60$193.9911.0%
      Phone $200.15$192.254.1%
      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.
      Uhland, TX1,489919.4%
      Niederwald, TX652919.1%
      Lockhart, TX13,782945.8%
      Mustang Ridge, TX1,229945.5%
      San Marcos, TX64,053981.9%
      Buda, TX16,48411212.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Menomonie, WI16,479964.2%
      New Milford, NJ16,47714646.0%
      Four Corners, OR16,49111010.0%
      Wolf Trap, VA16,497212112.2%
      Hillcrest Heights, MD16,49811717.1%
      Buda, TX16,48411212.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.