Cost of Living in Lubbock, TX: What It Actually Costs to Live Here
By Bre Brossman, REALTOR® · Updated October 2026
The cost of living in Lubbock, TX runs about 10% below the national average. Housing is the biggest reason: the typical Lubbock renter pays about 16% less than the typical U.S. renter, and Texas has no state income tax. Here are the real numbers, where they come from, and the two places Lubbock is not cheaper.
The short answer
| What | Lubbock | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Overall cost-of-living index | 90.4 | 100 |
| Median monthly rent (rent plus utilities) | $1,182 | $1,413 |
| Median monthly cost for owners with a mortgage | $1,794 | $1,963 |
| Average commute, one way | 16.3 minutes | 26.4 minutes |
| Median household income | $60,895 | $80,734 |
| State income tax | None | Varies by state |
Index: C2ER Cost of Living Index, 2024 annual, as published by the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance. Rent, owner costs, commute and income: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024, city of Lubbock. Full source list at the bottom of this page.
How does Lubbock compare to the national average?
The standard yardstick is the Cost of Living Index from the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), where 100 is the U.S. average. Lubbock's composite score is 90.4, which puts everyday life here roughly 10% below average. The Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, which publishes the figure, also ranks Lubbock 9th-lowest of 24 Texas urban areas in that index.
Other websites publish their own calculators and land on different percentages, because each one weighs housing, groceries and healthcare differently. They agree on the direction: Lubbock costs less than most of the country, and housing is why.
What does housing cost in Lubbock?
The Census Bureau's latest five-year survey puts median gross rent in Lubbock at $1,182 a month, against $1,413 nationally. That is about 16% lower. Owners with a mortgage report a median monthly housing cost of $1,794, against $1,963 nationally, about 9% lower. Rent here means rent plus utilities; owner cost means mortgage, taxes, insurance and utilities.
Homeowners in that same survey value the median owner-occupied home in Lubbock at $212,400, against $332,700 nationally. Treat that as background, not as a price quote: it is what owners told the Census their homes were worth across 2020 to 2024, not what homes are selling for this month. What your budget buys today depends on the part of town, the age of the home, and current rates.
If you want that worked out for your numbers, start with how much house you can afford in Lubbock or run the payment calculator, then ask me for what is actually on the market in your range.
What about taxes?
Texas has no state income tax, so your paycheck is not reduced by one. Sales tax in Lubbock is 8.25%: the 6.25% state rate plus 2% local.
Property tax is the trade-off, and it is the first place Lubbock is not cheap. Texas funds schools and local government largely through property taxes, so the tax bill is a real part of a monthly house payment here. Rates are set every fall by each taxing unit (city, county, school district and others), and they differ by address. Before you fall in love with a payment, look up the actual tax history for that home at the Lubbock Central Appraisal District, or ask me and I will pull it.
What do utilities cost?
Utilities are the second place to budget carefully. West Texas summers mean air conditioning, and bills swing with the season and the age of the home.
One thing newcomers do not expect: since March 2024, most of Lubbock is in Texas's competitive electricity market. You choose your own electric provider and plan, and Lubbock Power & Light delivers the power and maintains the lines. Shopping plans is worth an hour of your time. Some addresses at the edges of town are served by an electric cooperative instead, so check before you assume.
How long is the commute?
Short. The average one-way commute in Lubbock is 16.3 minutes, against 26.4 minutes nationally. That is about 10 minutes back each way, every workday, plus less fuel and less wear on the car. Loop 289 circles the city and the Marsha Sharp Freeway runs through the middle of it, which keeps cross-town drives short.
What about jobs and income?
This is the honest half of the affordability story: pay is lower here too. Median household income in Lubbock is $60,895, against $80,734 nationally. If you are bringing a remote salary or relocating with an employer, the lower costs work in your favor. If you are job-hunting locally, compare the offer and the costs together.
The job base is steady. Texas Tech University opened fall 2026 with more than 45,000 students for the first time. Covenant Health and UMC Health System together employ about 9,000 people, and health services account for more than 13% of metro employment, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The surrounding High Plains harvests more than one-third of the U.S. cotton crop each year.
What is the weather like?
Dry and sunny, with real seasons. The National Weather Service's 30-year normals for Lubbock show 18.33 inches of precipitation and 7.0 inches of snow a year. The average temperature is 41.1°F in January and 81.2°F in July. Spring is windy. Summers are hot but dry, and evenings cool off.
Is Lubbock a good place to live?
It depends on what you want your money and your time to do. Lubbock tends to fit a move built around lower housing costs, no state income tax, a short commute, a university town's sports and arts calendar, and big-sky weather. It is a different fit if you want mountains or a coastline nearby, big-metro density, or mild summers.
The best way to find out is to see how the numbers land in the parts of town you are considering. My guide to Lubbock neighborhoods and the individual neighborhood guides describe each area by its homes and features. The newcomer's guide to moving to Lubbock covers the move itself, including how I help buyers tour homes from out of town.
Quick answers
What is the cost of living in Lubbock, TX?
About 10% below the national average. Lubbock scores 90.4 on the C2ER Cost of Living Index, where 100 is the U.S. average.
How much is rent in Lubbock?
Median gross rent is $1,182 a month, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey. The national median is $1,413.
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas does not tax personal income. Sales tax in Lubbock is 8.25%, and property taxes are higher than in many states.
What is more expensive in Lubbock?
Property taxes and summer electricity are the two costs to budget for. Local pay also runs below the national median.
How long is the average commute in Lubbock?
16.3 minutes one way, about 10 minutes shorter than the national average of 26.4 minutes.
Can I choose my electric company in Lubbock?
For most addresses, yes. Since March 2024, Lubbock Power & Light customers choose their own retail electric provider, and LP&L delivers the power.
Sources
Figures were checked on October 5, 2026. Statistics describe the city as a whole and change over time; they are not a quote, an appraisal, or a prediction for any property.
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lubbock city, Texas and United States (rent, owner costs, home value, commute, income; American Community Survey 2020–2024)
- Lubbock Economic Development Alliance: Cost of Living (C2ER Cost of Living Index, 2024 annual)
- Texas Comptroller: Sales and Use Tax
- Lubbock Central Appraisal District (property tax records by address)
- Lubbock Power & Light (electric choice)
- Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas: At the Heart of Texas, Lubbock (employers and industries)
- Texas Tech University: fall 2026 enrollment
- National Weather Service Lubbock: 1991–2020 climate normals
Run the numbers for your move
Every relocation is a different set of numbers. Tell me your budget, your timeline and what matters to you, and I will show you what it buys in Lubbock right now.
Start your Lubbock move with Bre
More Lubbock guides: Best neighborhoods in Lubbock · First-time homebuyer guide · How much house you can afford · How to choose a REALTOR® · Moving to Lubbock · New construction in south Lubbock · New construction vs. resale · Selling your home in Lubbock