A+
25%
Overall NAT. AVG.
24%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
54%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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 San Benito Texas National
Cost of living7592100
Goods & Services7696100
Groceries9395100
Health care8197100
Housing4683100
Transportation8492100
Utilities123102100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in San Benito, TX

Getting a feel for the cost of living in San Benito is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in San Benito is 75, which is 25% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

The cost of living in San Benito ranks as one of the most budget-friendly places to reside in the nation, as everyday expenses are far below average. Only a limited number of cities can boast a cost of living index that is at least 20% below the national average, and San Benito proudly falls into this exclusive group. This underscores the remarkable affordability of this region when compared to other cities.

Housing expenses often consume a significant portion of your net income, occasionally surpassing 30%. Fortunately, housing costs in San Benito are 53.6% below the national average. This highlights the region's exceptional affordability for both homeownership and rentals in comparison to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more reasonable fraction of their income to housing, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and improved overall financial well-being.

Everyday items like clothes, personal care products and fun activities all add up to what it costs to live. The thing is, in San Benito, these goods and services are 24.2% cheaper than what people pay on average across the country. That means you can enjoy what you need and like without going broke. With these savings, you can stash more cash in your savings or use it for other money goals, which can really boost your financial health.

Is San Benito Affordable?

Is San Benito affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take San Benito, for instance, where the median home price falls 67.8% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 20.3% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with San Benito flaunting a median household income of $46,256, 43.1% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in San Benito?

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In San Benito, healthcare costs are 19.5% 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 San Benito comes in at 23.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The San Benito 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in San Benito is 19% lower than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in San Benito is 25% lower than the national average
  • San Benito housing is 54% 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 San Benito

See all the best places to live around San Benito

Compare San Benito, 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$57,045$4,754$1,331$1,712
      Renters$33,329$2,777$778$1,000
      The affordability of the housing market in San Benito, 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 San Benito homeowners, the median income is $57,045. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,331 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $33,329. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $778 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 San Benito National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.60$27.6225.4%
      Beauty Salon $29.17$51.1142.9%
      Toothpaste $4.20$4.092.6%
      Shampoo $1.42$1.547.9%
      Movie $12.17$12.885.5%
      Yoga $10.00$19.6649.1%

      Groceries

      Item San Benito National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.21$7.706.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.6616.4%
      Milk $4.54$4.734.1%
      Potatoes $5.44$5.263.5%
      Pizza $9.60$12.7624.8%
      Beer $10.30$10.552.4%

      Health Care

      Item San Benito National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $107.58$140.0623.2%
      Doctor $83.89$153.8245.5%
      Dentist $105.17$123.1514.6%
      Ibuprofen $11.15$11.735.0%
      Lipitor $22.01$23.616.8%

      Housing

      Item San Benito National avg. Difference
      Home Price $105,026.00$326,622.0067.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,704.82$2,480.2531.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,151.00$1,444.0020.3%

      Transportation

      Item San Benito National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.55$3.0616.6%
      Tire Balancing $56.00$65.2114.1%

      Utilities

      Item San Benito National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $296.88$220.1234.9%
      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.
      El Camino Angosto, TX1478712.9%
      San Pedro, TX1898712.9%
      La Feria North, TX2418712.9%
      Orason, TX5688712.9%
      Villa del Sol, TX1478712.9%
      San Benito, TX24,9207525.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      North Potomac, MD24,91617373.1%
      Harvey, IL24,931918.6%
      Papillion, NE24,9051000.5%
      Arnold, MD24,89914444.2%
      Elmwood Park, IL24,95311716.7%
      San Benito, TX24,9207525.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.