A+
18%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
47%
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 Plainview Texas National
Cost of living8292100
Goods & Services9796100
Groceries9796100
Health care9194100
Housing5383100
Transportation9192100
Utilities90104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Plainview, TX

Understanding the cost of living in Plainview 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 Plainview cost of living index is 82, which is 18% 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.

Housing expenses often consume a significant portion of your net income, occasionally surpassing 30%. Fortunately, housing costs in Plainview are 47.2% below the national average. This highlights the region's exceptional affordability for both homeownership and rentals in comparison to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more reasonable fraction of their income to housing, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and improved overall financial well-being.

Is Plainview Affordable?

Wondering if Plainview 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 Plainview, for example, the median home price is 54.2% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 31% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Plainview boasting a median household income of $45,671, which is 17.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Plainview?

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Plainview, the groceries index registers 3.1% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Plainview, healthcare costs are 9.2% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Plainview 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.

New Real Estate Listings in Plainview Area
Search Homes for Sale in Plainview, TX

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Plainview is 11% lower than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Plainview is 18% lower than the national average
  • Plainview housing is 47% 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 Plainview

See all the best places to live around Plainview

Compare Plainview, TX Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Plainview?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Plainview?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Plainview poll results

      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$59,722$4,977$1,393$1,792
      Renters$32,192$2,683$751$966
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Plainview, TX, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Plainview, homeowners have a median income of $59,722. Using that number, a maximum of $1,393 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $32,192, which means there is a maximum of $751 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Plainview National avg. Difference
      Haircut $31.33$24.2629.1%
      Beauty Salon $55.26$45.5621.3%
      Toothpaste $3.68$3.700.6%
      Shampoo $1.28$1.280.3%
      Movie $12.18$12.130.4%
      Bowling $22.25$18.0023.6%

      Groceries

      Item Plainview National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.58$5.844.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.67$1.576.2%
      Milk $4.55$4.672.5%
      Potatoes $4.87$4.931.3%
      Pizza $13.76$12.0913.8%
      Beer $10.37$10.410.4%

      Health Care

      Item Plainview National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $129.03$125.682.7%
      Doctor $113.33$135.7816.5%
      Dentist $109.67$113.293.2%
      Ibuprofen $10.27$10.653.6%
      Lipitor $497.63$468.606.2%

      Housing

      Item Plainview National avg. Difference
      Home Price $84,600.00$184,700.0054.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,909.05$2,346.6918.6%
      Apartment Rent $655.00$949.0031.0%

      Transportation

      Item Plainview National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.26$3.465.9%
      Tire Balancing $55.19$59.927.9%

      Utilities

      Item Plainview National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $189.14$193.992.5%
      Phone $207.58$192.258.0%
      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.
      Seth Ward, TX1,8817821.9%
      Kress, TX8718020.1%
      Edmonson, TX858020.0%
      Hale Center, TX2,0138019.9%
      Plainview, TX20,1948217.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Wade Hampton, SC20,1921032.5%
      Kirkland, QC20,189n/a 
      Nogales, AZ20,182946.3%
      Payson, UT20,1811098.9%
      Rivière-du-Loup, QC20,207n/a 
      Plainview, TX20,1948217.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.