A+
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
27%
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 Lufkin Texas National
Cost of living8892100
Goods & Services9196100
Groceries9595100
Health care9997100
Housing7383100
Transportation9592100
Utilities107102100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Lufkin, TX

Knowing the cost of living in Lufkin 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 Lufkin stands at 88, marking it 12% lower than the national average.

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

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 8 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Lufkin and this is how they responded. 38% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 63% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Lufkin Affordable?

Wondering if Lufkin 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 Lufkin, for example, the median home price is 33.5% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 13% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Lufkin boasting a median household income of $71,988, which is 11.5% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Lufkin?

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Lufkin starts at 6.25% and the income tax rates start at 0%.

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

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 Lufkin, the utilities index registers 6.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Lufkin 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 Lufkin is 4% lower than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Lufkin is 12% lower than the national average
  • Lufkin housing is 27% 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 Lufkin

See all the best places to live around Lufkin

Compare Lufkin, 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$88,683$7,390$2,069$2,661
      Renters$50,662$4,222$1,182$1,520
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Lufkin, TX, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Lufkin, the median monthly income is $88,683 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,069 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $50,662, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,182 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 Lufkin National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.75$27.6221.2%
      Beauty Salon $35.55$51.1130.4%
      Toothpaste $4.09$4.090.1%
      Shampoo $1.29$1.5416.3%
      Movie $10.78$12.8816.3%
      Yoga $29.17$19.6648.4%

      Groceries

      Item Lufkin National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.85$7.701.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.51$1.669.2%
      Milk $4.38$4.737.5%
      Potatoes $5.44$5.263.5%
      Pizza $10.54$12.7617.4%
      Beer $10.31$10.552.3%

      Health Care

      Item Lufkin National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $106.24$140.0624.1%
      Doctor $144.33$153.826.2%
      Dentist $136.11$123.1510.5%
      Ibuprofen $11.56$11.731.5%
      Lipitor $20.60$23.6112.8%

      Housing

      Item Lufkin National avg. Difference
      Home Price $217,173.00$326,622.0033.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,101.99$2,480.2515.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,257.00$1,444.0013.0%

      Transportation

      Item Lufkin National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.74$3.0610.4%
      Tire Balancing $70.00$65.217.3%

      Utilities

      Item Lufkin National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $237.98$220.128.1%
      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.
      Wells, TX9327821.6%
      Diboll, TX5,4038020.2%
      Huntington, TX3,2518019.6%
      Redland, TX1,0678515.2%
      Burke, TX7588811.9%
      Lufkin, TX36,3828811.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Buenaventura Lakes, FL36,3891033.1%
      East Point, GA36,363982.4%
      Inver Grove Heights, MN36,35611212.2%
      Richmond, IN36,4167920.6%
      Carrollwood, FL36,42411212.2%
      Lufkin, TX36,3828811.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.