A+
2%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
3%
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 Live Oak Texas National
Cost of living9892100
Goods & Services9996100
Groceries9596100
Health care10594100
Housing10383100
Transportation9392100
Utilities85104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Live Oak, TX

The cost of living in Live Oak affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Live Oak is 98, which is 2% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Live Oak is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, goods and services and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.

Is Live Oak Affordable?

Is Live Oak an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Live Oak is 7% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 24.8% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Live Oak has a median household income of $66,201, which is 19.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Live Oak?

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 Live Oak, the utilities index is 14.8% lower than the national average.

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.

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Live Oak, is 2.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Live Oak 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 Live Oak is 6% higher than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Live Oak is 2% lower than the national average
  • Live Oak 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 Live Oak

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Compare Live Oak, 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$70,464$5,872$1,644$2,114
      Renters$65,712$5,476$1,533$1,972
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Live Oak 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. Live Oak has a median income of about $70,464 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,644 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $65,712. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,533 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 Live Oak National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.78$24.2614.4%
      Beauty Salon $43.67$45.564.2%
      Toothpaste $3.60$3.702.7%
      Shampoo $1.06$1.2817.2%
      Movie $9.50$12.1321.7%
      Bowling $13.70$18.0023.9%

      Groceries

      Item Live Oak National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $4.93$5.8415.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.57$1.570.1%
      Milk $4.57$4.672.2%
      Potatoes $4.55$4.937.7%
      Pizza $11.32$12.096.3%
      Beer $10.50$10.410.8%

      Health Care

      Item Live Oak National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $132.00$125.685.0%
      Doctor $171.14$135.7826.0%
      Dentist $108.33$113.294.4%
      Ibuprofen $10.16$10.654.7%
      Lipitor $481.60$468.602.8%

      Housing

      Item Live Oak National avg. Difference
      Home Price $171,800.00$184,700.007.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,951.07$2,346.6916.9%
      Apartment Rent $1,184.00$949.0024.8%

      Transportation

      Item Live Oak National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.03$3.4612.4%
      Tire Balancing $57.20$59.924.5%

      Utilities

      Item Live Oak National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $217.71$193.9912.2%
      Phone $201.97$192.255.1%
      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.
      Marion, TX8868613.7%
      Kirby, TX8,7098911.3%
      Balcones Heights, TX3,128928.0%
      San Antonio, TX1,529,133955.5%
      Universal City, TX20,691972.9%
      Live Oak, TX16,118982.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Rio Linda, CA16,11512625.8%
      Uvalde, TX16,1228514.9%
      Fairview Heights, IL16,143927.8%
      Sulphur Springs, TX16,091909.9%
      Springfield, MB16,146n/a 
      Live Oak, TX16,118982.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.