D
22%
Overall NAT. AVG.
21%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
47%
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 Rockwall Texas National
Cost of living12292100
Goods & Services12196100
Groceries9796100
Health care11094100
Housing14783100
Transportation9492100
Utilities115104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Rockwall, TX

Understanding the cost of living in Rockwall 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 Rockwall cost of living index is 122, which is 22% higher 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.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Rockwall may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Rockwall falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs significantly influence the Rockwall cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 47.1%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Rockwall, you you will have to spend 20.6% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

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

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 6 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Rockwall. The feedback revealed that 33% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 67% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Rockwall Affordable?

Is Rockwall an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Rockwall, the median home price is 49.6% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 41% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Rockwall come in at $100,894, which is 82.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Rockwall?

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable 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 Rockwall, is 47.1% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Rockwall 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.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Rockwall is 32% higher than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Rockwall is 22% higher than the national average
  • Rockwall housing is 47% 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 Rockwall

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Compare Rockwall, 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$111,955$9,330$2,612$3,359
      Renters$68,481$5,707$1,598$2,055
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Rockwall, 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 Rockwall, homeowners have a median income of $111,955. Using that number, a maximum of $2,612 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $68,481, which means there is a maximum of $1,598 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 Rockwall National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.57$24.262.8%
      Beauty Salon $35.11$45.5622.9%
      Toothpaste $3.51$3.705.1%
      Shampoo $1.22$1.284.7%
      Movie $11.85$12.132.3%
      Bowling $16.96$18.005.8%

      Groceries

      Item Rockwall National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.44$5.846.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.32$1.5716.1%
      Milk $4.63$4.670.9%
      Potatoes $4.15$4.9316.0%
      Pizza $11.96$12.091.0%
      Beer $10.27$10.411.4%

      Health Care

      Item Rockwall National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $96.63$125.6823.1%
      Doctor $131.00$135.783.5%
      Dentist $86.73$113.2923.4%
      Ibuprofen $10.40$10.652.4%
      Lipitor $484.49$468.603.4%

      Housing

      Item Rockwall National avg. Difference
      Home Price $276,400.00$184,700.0049.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,562.33$2,346.6933.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,338.00$949.0041.0%

      Transportation

      Item Rockwall National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.47$3.460.3%
      Tire Balancing $66.47$59.9210.9%

      Utilities

      Item Rockwall National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $145.64$193.9924.9%
      Phone $208.71$192.258.6%
      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, TX5948910.7%
      St. Paul, TX1,3778910.7%
      Mesquite CDP, TX6298514.7%
      Balch Springs, TX25,123963.7%
      Terrell, TX18,513981.8%
      Rockwall, TX45,16812221.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Pearl City, HI45,15918988.6%
      Herriman, UT45,21113232.3%
      Cleveland, TN45,115928.5%
      Lake Ridge, VA45,11113434.3%
      Hilo, HI45,24815554.9%
      Rockwall, TX45,16812221.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.