A+
15%
Overall NAT. AVG.
8%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
40%
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 Port Lavaca Texas National
Cost of living8592100
Goods & Services9296100
Groceries9796100
Health care8594100
Housing6083100
Transportation9392100
Utilities116104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Port Lavaca, TX

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Port Lavaca? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Port Lavaca stands at 85, making it 15% 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.

Port Lavaca housing costs are 40.5% 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, Port Lavaca residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.

Is Port Lavaca Affordable?

Wondering if Port Lavaca 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 Port Lavaca, for example, the median home price is 44.3% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 31.6% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Port Lavaca boasting a median household income of $54,817, which is 0.9% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Port Lavaca?

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Port Lavaca starts at 6.25% and the income tax rates start at 0%.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Port Lavaca, healthcare costs are 14.9% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Port Lavaca, the groceries index is 3.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Port Lavaca 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Port Lavaca is 8% lower than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Port Lavaca is 15% lower than the national average
  • Port Lavaca housing is 40% 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 Port Lavaca

See all the best places to live around Port Lavaca

Compare Port Lavaca, 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$63,415$5,285$1,480$1,903
      Renters$47,660$3,972$1,112$1,430
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Port Lavaca, 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 Port Lavaca homeowners, is $63,415. This would allow for a maximum of $1,480 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $47,660 which would result in a maximum of $1,112 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 Port Lavaca National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.53$24.2611.3%
      Beauty Salon $42.00$45.567.8%
      Toothpaste $3.59$3.703.0%
      Shampoo $1.19$1.287.3%
      Movie $9.60$12.1320.9%
      Bowling $18.83$18.004.6%

      Groceries

      Item Port Lavaca National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.60$5.844.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.66$1.575.3%
      Milk $4.63$4.671.0%
      Potatoes $4.86$4.931.5%
      Pizza $13.24$12.099.5%
      Beer $10.07$10.413.3%

      Health Care

      Item Port Lavaca National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $126.53$125.680.7%
      Doctor $101.11$135.7825.5%
      Dentist $91.28$113.2919.4%
      Ibuprofen $10.41$10.652.2%
      Lipitor $468.06$468.600.1%

      Housing

      Item Port Lavaca National avg. Difference
      Home Price $102,900.00$184,700.0044.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,663.11$2,346.6929.1%
      Apartment Rent $649.00$949.0031.6%

      Transportation

      Item Port Lavaca National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.07$3.4611.4%
      Tire Balancing $62.05$59.923.6%

      Utilities

      Item Port Lavaca National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $234.01$193.9920.6%
      Phone $209.24$192.258.8%
      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.
      Vanderbilt, TX631964.1%
      Placedo, TX4867525.0%
      Point Comfort, TX5768515.0%
      Lolita, TX7618910.9%
      Seadrift, TX1,5909010.4%
      Port Lavaca, TX12,0158515.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Durham, NH12,01613433.8%
      Babylon, NY12,01115554.6%
      Edgewood, WA12,01014242.4%
      Kings, Subd. B, NS12,020n/a 
      Rawdon, QC12,021n/a 
      Port Lavaca, TX12,0158515.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.