A+
8%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
19%
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 Longview Texas National
Cost of living9292100
Goods & Services9696100
Groceries9795100
Health care8597100
Housing8183100
Transportation8992100
Utilities106102100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Longview, TX

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Longview? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Longview stands at 92, making it 8% lower 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.

The cost of living in Longview is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, goods and services and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.

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

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 7 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Longview and this is how they responded. 57% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 43% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Longview Affordable?

Is Longview 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 Longview, the median home price is 23.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 10% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Longview come in at $75,989, which is 6.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Longview?

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 Longview, the transportation index is 10.8% lower than the national average.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Longview, the housing index comes in at 19.2% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Longview, healthcare costs are 14.7% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Longview, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Longview is 1% lower than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Longview is 8% lower than the national average
  • Longview housing is 19% lower 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 Longview

See all the best places to live around Longview

Compare Longview, 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$99,399$8,283$2,319$2,982
      Renters$51,431$4,286$1,200$1,543
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Longview, 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 Longview homeowners, is $99,399. This would allow for a maximum of $2,319 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $51,431 which would result in a maximum of $1,200 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 Longview National avg. Difference
      Haircut $22.30$27.6219.3%
      Beauty Salon $47.92$51.116.2%
      Toothpaste $4.11$4.090.4%
      Shampoo $1.52$1.541.4%
      Movie $11.94$12.887.3%
      Yoga $17.11$19.6613.0%

      Groceries

      Item Longview National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.54$7.702.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.53$1.668.0%
      Milk $4.66$4.731.5%
      Potatoes $5.49$5.264.4%
      Pizza $12.14$12.764.9%
      Beer $10.54$10.550.1%

      Health Care

      Item Longview National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $153.20$140.069.4%
      Doctor $101.08$153.8234.3%
      Dentist $110.43$123.1510.3%
      Ibuprofen $11.41$11.732.7%
      Lipitor $20.05$23.6115.1%

      Housing

      Item Longview National avg. Difference
      Home Price $251,033.00$326,622.0023.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,126.85$2,480.2514.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,299.00$1,444.0010.0%

      Transportation

      Item Longview National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.68$3.0612.2%
      Tire Balancing $60.38$65.217.4%

      Utilities

      Item Longview National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $234.58$220.126.6%
      Phone $205.01$195.714.8%
      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.
      Easton, TX4388317.4%
      Gladewater, TX6,1188713.2%
      Tatum, TX1,3328712.9%
      Kilgore, TX15,3888911.3%
      Lakeport, TX1,2978911.2%
      Longview, TX85,215928.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Melbourne, FL85,2421022.2%
      Fort Myers, FL85,27011110.6%
      Sioux City, IA85,3048713.5%
      Chino Hills, CA85,41217878.2%
      Goodyear, AZ85,48612626.0%
      Longview, TX85,215928.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.