| Index | Friendswood | Texas | National |
| Cost of living | 116 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 159 | 83 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 96 | 98 | 100 |

The cost of living in Friendswood 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 Friendswood is 116, which is 16% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
Housing costs significantly influence the Friendswood cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 58.6%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 7 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Friendswood. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 14% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 86% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Friendswood 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 Friendswood, the median home price is 65.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 43% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Friendswood come in at $162,034, which is 99.2% 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 Friendswood, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.25%, and income tax rates start at 0%.
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.
Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Friendswood, the transportation index is 5.2% lower than the national average.
The cost of living data for Friendswood shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $194,067 | $16,172 | $4,528 | $5,823 |
| Renters | $97,306 | $8,109 | $2,270 | $2,919 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Texas | 6.25% | 8.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Texas | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Liverpool, TX | 533 | 85 | 14.5% |
| South Houston, TX | 17,971 | 90 | 9.5% |
| La Marque, TX | 17,391 | 91 | 9.0% |
| Hitchcock, TX | 8,085 | 91 | 8.9% |
| Pasadena, TX | 157,942 | 94 | 6.1% |
| Friendswood, TX | 40,785 | 116 | 16.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Keizer, OR | 40,787 | 117 | 16.8% |
| Columbia, TN | 40,814 | 96 | 3.6% |
| Marlborough, MA | 40,753 | 137 | 36.5% |
| Sumter, SC | 40,739 | 92 | 7.9% |
| Germantown, TN | 40,725 | 120 | 20.0% |
| Friendswood, TX | 40,785 | 116 | 16.3% |