D+
20%
Overall NAT. AVG.
21%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
41%
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 Rowlett Texas National
Cost of living12092100
Goods & Services12196100
Groceries9796100
Health care11094100
Housing14183100
Transportation9492100
Utilities115104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Rowlett, TX

Knowing the cost of living in Rowlett 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 Rowlett stands at 120, marking it 20% higher than the national average.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Rowlett cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 40.6% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Rowlett, these items will cost you 20.6% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

Is Rowlett Affordable?

Is Rowlett 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 Rowlett, the median home price is 28.5% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 68.8% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Rowlett come in at $103,627, which is 87.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Rowlett?

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.

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: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Rowlett, healthcare costs are 9.8% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Rowlett 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 Rowlett is 30% higher than the Texas average
  • The cost of living in Rowlett is 20% higher than the national average
  • Rowlett housing is 41% 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 Rowlett

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Compare Rowlett, 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$109,222$9,102$2,548$3,277
      Renters$68,197$5,683$1,591$2,046
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Rowlett, TX, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Rowlett have a median income of $109,222. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,548 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $68,197, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,591.

      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 Rowlett 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 Rowlett 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 Rowlett 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 Rowlett National avg. Difference
      Home Price $237,300.00$184,700.0028.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,562.33$2,346.6933.4%
      Apartment Rent $1,602.00$949.0068.8%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Rowlett 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%
      Mesquite, TX142,4291022.1%
      Rowlett, TX65,42612019.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Halton Hills, ON65,483n/a 
      Auburn, AL65,5081087.8%
      Schenectady, NY65,336946.5%
      Madera, CA65,57511514.7%
      Sammamish, WA65,265206105.6%
      Rowlett, TX65,42612019.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.