A+
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
12%
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 Dickson Tennessee National
Cost of living9489100
Goods & Services9494100
Groceries10098100
Health care9188100
Housing8880100
Transportation9289100
Utilities10293100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Dickson, TN

The cost of living in Dickson 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 Dickson is 94, which is 6% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Dickson closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Dickson can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

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

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 Dickson. The feedback revealed that 17% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 83% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Dickson Affordable?

Wondering if Dickson is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Dickson, for example, the median home price is 8% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 21.8% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Dickson boasting a median household income of $52,399, which is 5.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Dickson?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Dickson, the healthcare costs are 9.2% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Dickson, the utilities index registers at 2.1% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Dickson, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 7%, and income tax rates start at 0%.

Where is the Data From?

The Dickson 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 Dickson is 5% higher than the Tennessee average
  • The cost of living in Dickson is 6% lower than the national average
  • Dickson housing is 12% lower than the national average
  • Tennessee general sales tax is 37% higher than the national average
  • Tennessee state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Dickson

See all the best places to live around Dickson

Compare Dickson, TN 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$62,234$5,186$1,452$1,867
      Renters$33,904$2,825$791$1,017
      The affordability of the housing market in Dickson, TN 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 Dickson homeowners, the median income is $62,234. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,452 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $33,904. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $791 for their rent related monthly costs.

      Tennessee Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Tennessee 7% 9.75%

      Tennessee Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Tennessee 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Dickson National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.76$24.262.1%
      Beauty Salon $46.01$45.561.0%
      Toothpaste $3.71$3.700.2%
      Shampoo $1.23$1.283.9%
      Movie $13.30$12.139.6%
      Bowling $19.79$18.009.9%

      Groceries

      Item Dickson National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.70$5.842.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.43$1.578.9%
      Milk $4.68$4.670.2%
      Potatoes $5.16$4.934.6%
      Pizza $10.85$12.0910.3%
      Beer $10.05$10.413.5%

      Health Care

      Item Dickson National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $96.03$125.6823.6%
      Doctor $116.91$135.7813.9%
      Dentist $104.65$113.297.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.51$10.651.3%
      Lipitor $460.51$468.601.7%

      Housing

      Item Dickson National avg. Difference
      Home Price $169,900.00$184,700.008.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,548.79$2,346.698.6%
      Apartment Rent $742.00$949.0021.8%

      Transportation

      Item Dickson National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.12$3.469.8%
      Tire Balancing $57.43$59.924.2%

      Utilities

      Item Dickson National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $183.77$193.995.3%
      Phone $218.37$192.2513.6%
      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.
      Wrigley, TN513964.3%
      McEwen, TN1,8028316.7%
      Lyles, TN1,2738515.1%
      Bon Aqua Junction, TN1,2668614.1%
      Vanleer, TN4188712.8%
      Dickson, TN15,500946.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Clearview, ON15,502n/a 
      Azalea Park, FL15,495990.8%
      Coto de Caza, CA15,509236135.8%
      Longwood, FL15,5141066.3%
      Middleburg Heights, OH15,514945.5%
      Dickson, TN15,500946.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.