A+
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
9%
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 Brenham Texas National
Cost of living9492100
Goods & Services9396100
Groceries9896100
Health care10094100
Housing9183100
Transportation8592100
Utilities103104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Brenham, TX

Knowing the cost of living in Brenham 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 Brenham stands at 94, marking it 6% lower than the national average.

The cost of living in Brenham closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Brenham can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Brenham Affordable?

Wondering if Brenham 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 Brenham, for example, the median home price is 11.4% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 3.9% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Brenham boasting a median household income of $49,147, which is 11.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Brenham?

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

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 Brenham, healthcare costs are 0% equal to the national average.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Brenham, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.25%, and income tax rates start at 0%.

Where is the Data From?

The Brenham 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Brenham is 1% higher than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Brenham is 6% lower than the national average
  • Brenham housing is 9% 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 Brenham

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Compare Brenham, 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$63,134$5,261$1,473$1,894
      Renters$26,677$2,223$622$800
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Brenham is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Brenham has a median income of about $63,134 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,473 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $26,677. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $622 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Brenham National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.52$24.265.2%
      Beauty Salon $67.87$45.5648.9%
      Toothpaste $3.53$3.704.6%
      Shampoo $1.29$1.281.0%
      Movie $11.10$12.138.5%
      Bowling $23.53$18.0030.7%

      Groceries

      Item Brenham National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.65$5.843.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.61$1.572.1%
      Milk $4.70$4.670.7%
      Potatoes $4.99$4.931.1%
      Pizza $11.67$12.093.5%
      Beer $10.52$10.411.1%

      Health Care

      Item Brenham National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $120.70$125.684.0%
      Doctor $93.85$135.7830.9%
      Dentist $120.24$113.296.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.69$10.650.3%
      Lipitor $505.78$468.607.9%

      Housing

      Item Brenham National avg. Difference
      Home Price $163,700.00$184,700.0011.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,890.77$2,346.6919.4%
      Apartment Rent $912.00$949.003.9%

      Transportation

      Item Brenham National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.02$3.4612.8%
      Tire Balancing $58.88$59.921.7%

      Utilities

      Item Brenham National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $190.29$193.991.9%
      Phone $211.13$192.259.8%
      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.
      Burton, TX310955.3%
      Somerville, TX1,2268316.6%
      Bellville, TX4,228972.7%
      Industry, TX275982.2%
      Brenham, TX17,297946.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Taylor, TX17,291946.4%
      Shorewood, IL17,30311818.3%
      Lindenwold, NJ17,288973.3%
      Colonial Heights, VA17,2831010.6%
      Hannibal, MO17,3128515.1%
      Brenham, TX17,297946.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.