An Overview of Cost of Living in Friendswood, TX
Understanding the cost of living in Friendswood can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Friendswood cost of living index is 117, which is 17% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
When it comes to the cost of living in Friendswood, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 57.8% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.
What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Friendswood?
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 7 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Friendswood and this is how they responded. 14% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 86% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Friendswood Affordable?
Is Friendswood 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 Friendswood, the median home price is 62.5% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 46.9% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Friendswood come in at $108,135, which is 95.5% higher than the national average.
What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Friendswood?
Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Friendswood, the transportation index is 9.6% lower than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Friendswood, healthcare costs are 6.1% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
Where is the Data From?
The Friendswood 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.