A+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
33%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Palestine Texas National
Cost of living8992100
Goods & Services9696100
Groceries9796100
Health care9994100
Housing6783100
Transportation10292100
Utilities107104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Palestine, TX

Understanding the cost of living in Palestine 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 Palestine cost of living index is 89, which is 11% lower 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.

Is Palestine Affordable?

Is Palestine 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 Palestine is 42.6% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 12.1% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Palestine has a median household income of $40,684, which is 26.5% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Palestine?

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Palestine comes in at 6.7% higher than the national average.

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 Palestine, is 33.4% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Palestine 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 Palestine is 4% lower than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Palestine is 11% lower than the national average
  • Palestine housing is 33% 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 Palestine

See all the best places to live around Palestine

Compare Palestine, 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$52,224$4,352$1,218$1,567
      Renters$32,293$2,691$753$969
      The affordability of the housing market in Palestine, TX as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Palestine homeowners, the median income is $52,224. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,218 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $32,293. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $753 for their rent related monthly 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 Palestine National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.75$24.2610.3%
      Beauty Salon $54.44$45.5619.5%
      Toothpaste $3.73$3.700.7%
      Shampoo $1.22$1.284.7%
      Movie $9.77$12.1319.5%
      Bowling $9.72$18.0046.0%

      Groceries

      Item Palestine National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.50$5.845.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.58$1.570.5%
      Milk $4.54$4.672.8%
      Potatoes $5.05$4.932.3%
      Pizza $11.49$12.094.9%
      Beer $10.44$10.410.2%

      Health Care

      Item Palestine National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $126.64$125.680.8%
      Doctor $111.98$135.7817.5%
      Dentist $120.97$113.296.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.42$10.652.2%
      Lipitor $526.57$468.6012.4%

      Housing

      Item Palestine National avg. Difference
      Home Price $106,100.00$184,700.0042.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,017.54$2,346.6914.0%
      Apartment Rent $834.00$949.0012.1%

      Transportation

      Item Palestine National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.08$3.4610.9%
      Tire Balancing $79.11$59.9232.0%

      Utilities

      Item Palestine National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $209.92$193.998.2%
      Phone $199.93$192.254.0%
      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.
      Elkhart, TX1,4288514.5%
      Oakwood, TX7708613.9%
      Palestine, TX17,9068911.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lenoir, NC17,9098514.9%
      Fayetteville, GA17,9021087.5%
      Sainte-Sophie, QC17,917n/a 
      Safety Harbor, FL17,89311313.1%
      Scarsdale, NY17,890279179.4%
      Palestine, TX17,9068911.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.