See Where Texarkana Ranks as Least Expensive Places to Live

How do you think Texarkana’ s cost of living rates compared to other urban areas in the country?

The Texarkana USA Chamber of Commerce is a participating and contributing part of the quarterly research.  The Chamber gathers local data on the Texarkana area to provide information in determining the local cost of living and how it relates to the other urban areas of the country.

Among the 269 urban areas that participated in the 2017 Cost of Living Index, the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial standard of living ranged from more than twice the national average in New York (Manhattan), NY, to more than 20 percent below the national average in McAllen, TX.   The Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Here are the least expensive urban areas to live.

1. McAllen, Texas 76.1

2. Conway, Ar. 78.2

3. Harlingen, Texas 78.6

4. Richmond, IN 79.0

5. Kalamazoo, MI 79.5

6. Tupelo, MS 80.1

7. Wichita Falls, Texas 81.7

8. Knoxville, TN  82.2

9. Hattiesburg, MS  82.7

10. Ashland, Oh  82.9

Texarkana wasn't too far behind with a Cost of Living Score composite index of 85.5

The Cost of Living Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It is based on more than 50,000 prices covering almost 60 different items for which prices are collected three times a year by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, or university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences in the index numbers should not be interpreted as significant.

The composite index is based on six components – housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services.

The data presented represent average prices submitted for the first three quarters of 2017.  For further details on the annual average methodology, please visit their website at coli.org.