A+
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
28%
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 Fort Hood Texas National
Cost of living10492100
Goods & Services9096100
Groceries9196100
Health care10694100
Housing12883100
Transportation9092100
Utilities110104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Fort Hood, TX

Knowing the cost of living in Fort Hood allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Fort Hood stands at 104, marking it 4% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Fort Hood aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Fort Hood residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Fort Hood cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 27.5% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Everyday staples like clothes, toiletries and entertainment expenses play a big role in your total living costs. But in Fort Hood, these goods are 10.3% cheaper than the national average. So, you can enjoy what you need and love without emptying your wallet. Plus, you'll have more cash to put towards your savings or any other money goals you have, which is a real boost for your financial well-being.

Grocery prices are climbing, making it hard to find cities with affordable food options. However, in Fort Hood, the grocery index is 8.7% lower than the national average, making it a budget-friendly place to shop for groceries when compared to other cities across the country.

Is Fort Hood Affordable?

Is Fort Hood an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Fort Hood is 100% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 27.5% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Fort Hood has a median household income of $45,417, which is 17.9% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Fort Hood?

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 Fort Hood, the groceries index registers 8.7% lower than the national average.

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

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Fort Hood 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 Fort Hood is 12% higher than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Fort Hood is 4% higher than the national average
  • Fort Hood housing is 28% 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 Fort Hood

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Compare Fort Hood, 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$47,212$3,934$1,102$1,417
      Renters$45,205$3,767$1,055$1,356
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Fort Hood, TX, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Fort Hood homeowners, is $47,212. This would allow for a maximum of $1,102 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $45,205 which would result in a maximum of $1,055 to be spent on rental 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 Fort Hood National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.28$24.2612.3%
      Beauty Salon $50.28$45.5610.3%
      Toothpaste $3.57$3.703.7%
      Shampoo $1.35$1.285.7%
      Movie $10.03$12.1317.3%
      Bowling $20.06$18.0011.4%

      Groceries

      Item Fort Hood National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.71$5.842.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.32$1.5716.1%
      Milk $4.56$4.672.5%
      Potatoes $3.98$4.9319.3%
      Pizza $10.63$12.0912.1%
      Beer $9.91$10.414.8%

      Health Care

      Item Fort Hood National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $129.92$125.683.4%
      Doctor $106.41$135.7821.6%
      Dentist $105.82$113.296.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.32$10.653.1%
      Lipitor $466.19$468.600.5%

      Housing

      Item Fort Hood National avg. Difference
      Home Price $0.00$184,700.00100.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,164.77$2,346.697.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,210.00$949.0027.5%

      Transportation

      Item Fort Hood National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.18$3.468.0%
      Tire Balancing $52.82$59.9211.8%

      Utilities

      Item Fort Hood National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $152.98$193.9921.1%
      Phone $207.96$192.258.2%
      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.
      Copperas Cove, TX32,9608713.0%
      Killeen, TX148,5739010.3%
      Nolanville, TX5,732909.8%
      Kempner, TX1,057918.8%
      Harker Heights, TX31,657972.9%
      Fort Hood, TX23,3021043.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fairfax, VA23,31215958.9%
      Columbus, NE23,291945.9%
      Rolling Meadows, IL23,28811414.0%
      Loves Park, IL23,2748713.0%
      Westchase, FL23,33612424.2%
      Fort Hood, TX23,3021043.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.