A-
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
11%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
3%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Garland Texas National
Cost of living10692100
Goods & Services11196100
Groceries9895100
Health care12197100
Housing10383100
Transportation10192100
Utilities113102100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Garland, TX

Knowing the cost of living in Garland 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 Garland stands at 106, marking it 6% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Garland 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. Garland 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.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In Garland, you can expect to pay 10.7% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Garland?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 11 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Garland. The results indicated that 91% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 9% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Garland Affordable?

Wondering if Garland 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 Garland, for example, the median home price is 6.4% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 26% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Garland boasting a median household income of $95,929, which is 17.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Garland?

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Garland, the housing index is 3.3% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Garland, the utilities index is 12.8% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Garland, the groceries index is 2.4% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Garland 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 Garland is 15% higher than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Garland is 6% higher than the national average
  • Garland housing is 3% higher 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 Garland

See all the best places to live around Garland

Compare Garland, 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$116,056$9,671$2,708$3,482
      Renters$66,401$5,533$1,549$1,992
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Garland, TX, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Garland homeowners, is $116,056. This would allow for a maximum of $2,708 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $66,401 which would result in a maximum of $1,549 to be spent on rental 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 Garland National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.25$27.6212.2%
      Beauty Salon $72.82$51.1142.5%
      Toothpaste $4.11$4.090.4%
      Shampoo $1.62$1.545.1%
      Movie $13.77$12.886.9%
      Yoga $20.72$19.665.4%

      Groceries

      Item Garland National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.12$7.707.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.55$1.666.8%
      Milk $4.50$4.734.9%
      Potatoes $5.51$5.264.8%
      Pizza $11.68$12.768.5%
      Beer $11.14$10.555.6%

      Health Care

      Item Garland National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $160.92$140.0614.9%
      Doctor $133.69$153.8213.1%
      Dentist $177.45$123.1544.1%
      Ibuprofen $11.69$11.730.4%
      Lipitor $28.85$23.6122.2%

      Housing

      Item Garland National avg. Difference
      Home Price $305,858.00$326,622.006.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,762.91$2,480.2511.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,819.00$1,444.0026.0%

      Transportation

      Item Garland National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.77$3.069.5%
      Tire Balancing $82.51$65.2126.5%

      Utilities

      Item Garland National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $259.77$220.1218.0%
      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.
      St. Paul CDP, TX6088713.0%
      St. Paul, TX1,4078712.9%
      Mesquite CDP, TX6478416.1%
      Cockrell Hill, TX4,306928.5%
      Balch Springs, TX25,952955.2%
      Garland, TX245,2111066.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Arlington, VA244,81217776.8%
      Fremont, CA242,323229128.6%
      Hialeah, FL241,98511414.2%
      Irving, TX248,4581065.8%
      Regina, SK241,465n/a 
      Garland, TX245,2111066.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.