A+
24%
Overall NAT. AVG.
13%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
58%
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 Roma Texas National
Cost of living7692100
Goods & Services8896100
Groceries9196100
Health care7694100
Housing4283100
Transportation9192100
Utilities106104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Roma, TX

The cost of living in Roma 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 Roma is 76, which is 24% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Roma is highly regarded for its affordability, with everyday expenses well below the national average. Roma is among the select few cities with a cost of living index at least 20% lower than the national average, showcasing its outstanding affordability compared to other areas.

Roma housing costs are 57.9% 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, Roma residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.

Everyday basics like clothes, personal care items and entertainment factor into your overall living costs. But here's the good news: in Roma, these things are 12.5% more affordable than the national average. So, you can get what you need and have fun without emptying your wallet. With these savings, you can stash more money in your savings or put it towards other financial goals, ultimately improving your financial health.

With the cost of groceries currently outpacing inflation, it's becoming more and more difficult to find cities that offer affordable grocery items. Luckily, Roma has a 8.6% lower than average grocery index - meaning groceries are much more affordable in this area, when compared to other cities across the nation.

Is Roma Affordable?

Is Roma 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 Roma, the median home price is 60.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 52.9% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Roma come in at $23,138, which is 58.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Roma?

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Roma, the utilities index registers 5.5% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

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 Roma, the groceries index registers 8.6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Roma, 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.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Roma is 18% lower than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Roma is 24% lower than the national average
  • Roma housing is 58% 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 Roma

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Compare Roma, 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$30,197$2,516$705$906
      Renters$16,949$1,412$395$509
      The affordability of the housing market in Roma, TX as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Roma homeowners, the median income is $30,197. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $705 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $16,949. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $395 for their rent related monthly 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 Roma National avg. Difference
      Haircut $17.78$24.2626.7%
      Beauty Salon $30.94$45.5632.1%
      Toothpaste $3.40$3.708.2%
      Shampoo $1.05$1.2818.0%
      Movie $11.98$12.131.3%
      Bowling $20.00$18.0011.1%

      Groceries

      Item Roma National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.77$5.841.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.1%
      Milk $4.51$4.673.5%
      Potatoes $4.84$4.932.0%
      Pizza $11.29$12.096.6%
      Beer $10.29$10.411.2%

      Health Care

      Item Roma National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $115.00$125.688.5%
      Doctor $119.56$135.7811.9%
      Dentist $113.53$113.290.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.25$10.653.8%
      Lipitor $465.59$468.600.6%

      Housing

      Item Roma National avg. Difference
      Home Price $73,700.00$184,700.0060.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,864.04$2,346.6920.6%
      Apartment Rent $447.00$949.0052.9%

      Transportation

      Item Roma National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.16$3.468.7%
      Tire Balancing $54.06$59.929.8%

      Utilities

      Item Roma National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $221.71$193.9914.3%
      Phone $208.71$192.258.6%
      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.
      Casas, TX6919.3%
      Loma Linda West, TX99919.3%
      Flor del Rio, TX0919.3%
      Sammy Martinez, TX116919.3%
      Falcon Heights, TX0919.3%
      Roma, TX11,4277623.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Urbana, OH11,4288911.3%
      Selkirk, MB11,428n/a 
      Signal Hill, CA11,43015656.2%
      Pontiac, IL11,4309010.1%
      Woods Cross, UT11,42311717.5%
      Roma, TX11,4277623.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.