What is the cost of living in Galveston, TX?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Galveston has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Texas, Galveston has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Texas's index of 93.
The standard of living in Galveston ranks as #264 most affordable out of the 419 places we measured in Texas. By definition, that implies Galveston ranks as the #155 most expensive place in the Lone Star State.
For more reading on life in Galveston, check out:
Galveston Cost Of Living Vs. Texas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Galveston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Galveston is 99.
The Groceries index in Galveston is 98.
The Health index in Galveston is 109.
The Housing index in Galveston is 95.
The Transportation index in Galveston is 103.
The Utilities index in Galveston is 95.
| Living Expense | Galveston | Texas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 93 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 109 | 81 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 100 | 100 |
Galveston Cost Of Living Compared To Texas Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Texas, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Galveston Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Galveston, TX Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Texas, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Galveston is $320,624.
The Median Rent in Galveston is $1,298.
The Median Income in Galveston is $55,631.
The Home Value To Income in Galveston is 5.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Galveston is 0.28x.
Galveston, TX Costs By Category
Detailed Galveston Services costs vs. Texas
Detailed Galveston Groceries costs vs. Texas
Detailed Galveston Health costs vs. Texas
Detailed Galveston Transportation costs vs. Texas
Galveston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Galveston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Galveston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Pearland, TX has a cost of living index of 111, 1.1x Galveston.
Sugar Land, TX has a cost of living index of 126, 1.2x Galveston.
Friendswood, TX has a cost of living index of 117, 1.1x Galveston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Galveston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearland, TX | 127,514 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Sugar Land, TX | 110,016 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Friendswood, TX | 41,030 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Deer Park, TX | 33,967 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Lake Jackson, TX | 27,974 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Fresno, TX | 24,560 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Dickinson, TX | 21,753 | 97 | 1.0x |
| La Marque, TX | 19,268 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Bellaire, TX | 17,206 | 185 | 1.8x |
| West University Place, TX | 14,982 | 236 | 2.3x |
