Cost of Living in Arlington, TN

Homes For Sale In Arlington, TN

An Overview of Cost of Living in Arlington, TN

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Arlington? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Arlington stands at 110, making it 10% higher 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 Arlington aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Arlington residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Arlington cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 52.9% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Arlington Affordable?

Is Arlington 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 Arlington, for instance, where the median home price falls 45.3% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 70.8% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Arlington flaunting a median household income of $149,746, 84.1% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Arlington?

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 Arlington, the utilities index registers 15.5% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Arlington, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 7%, and income tax rates kick off at 0%.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Arlington, 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.

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Arlington

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Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Arlington, TN, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Arlington have a median income of $158,884. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $3,707 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $81,259, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,896.

Tennessee Sales Tax

Tennessee Income Tax

Goods & Services

Groceries

Health Care

Housing

Transportation

Utilities

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.

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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.