| Index | Mercedes | Texas | National |
| Cost of living | 83 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 45 | 83 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 103 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 94 | 98 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Mercedes 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 Mercedes stands at 83, marking it 17% lower than the national average.
Mercedes housing costs are 54.5% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Mercedes residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.
Is Mercedes 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 Mercedes, the median home price is 60.1% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 41.6% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Mercedes boasting a median household income of $58,108, 28.6% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Mercedes comes in at 0.1% higher than the national average.
Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Mercedes, the housing index is 54.5% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday household expenses, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Mercedes, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and the income tax rates commence at 0%.
The Mercedes cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $83,960 | $6,997 | $1,959 | $2,519 |
| Renters | $29,430 | $2,453 | $687 | $883 |
| 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. |
| Relampago, TX | 395 | 99 | 1.2% |
| Evergreen, TX | 40 | 99 | 0.9% |
| Tierra Bonita, TX | 67 | 97 | 2.5% |
| Villa Verde, TX | 211 | 99 | 1.2% |
| La Feria North, TX | 241 | 97 | 2.5% |
| Mercedes, TX | 16,898 | 83 | 17.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Storrs, CT | 16,897 | 116 | 15.8% |
| Washington, IL | 16,894 | 100 | 0.0% |
| Heber, UT | 16,894 | 124 | 24.0% |
| Hillcrest Heights, MD | 16,890 | 113 | 13.3% |
| Menomonie, WI | 16,888 | 95 | 4.7% |
| Mercedes, TX | 16,898 | 83 | 17.2% |
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